Though the shirt quantity could seem arbitrary to some, it’s unimaginable to disregard the standing and significance of the quantity seven shirt at Manchester United, because it has grow to be synonymous with the membership’s brightest and greatest gamers.
From Eric Cantona to David Beckham to Cristiano Ronaldo, the Purple Devils’ shirt had a rightful residence throughout its superb 17 years within the Premier League, and all three wore it with flying colours.
However within the 16 years since Ronaldo left for Actual Madrid, the No. 7 shirt has grow to be one thing of a poisoned chalice, a cursed providing to a sequence of deluded and flattering new signings.
Incumbent Mason Mount has scored simply 5 targets in his injury-plagued two years at Previous Trafford, and questions are more likely to be requested as as to if the Englishman deserves such an accolade within the first place.
Mount, who’s gifted however arguably unreliable as a consequence of his repeated stints on the remedy desk, may nicely profit from taking a few of the pressure and stress off himself, and maybe he already has the proper successor in place in Ruben Amorim.
Manchester United’s quantity 7 curse after Ronaldo
Have United actually recovered from the summer time of 2009? With Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez out, Sir Alex Ferguson changed him with Gabriel Aubertan, Antonio Valencia and the getting older Michael Owen.
This drastic drop in high quality is probably typical of the malaise that ensued throughout the much-maligned Glazer regime, through which the preliminary post-Ronaldo success shortly evaporated within the years following Ferguson’s retirement.
The arrival of Portuguese sensation-turned-man Owen because the membership’s new No. 7 stays an actual thorn within the aspect, with former England worldwide – that His aim within the Manchester derby apart, he proved to be a forgotten man at Previous Trafford.
The spot was then taken over by Valencia within the 2012-13 season, however the Ecuadorian shortly relinquished it and the subsequent recipient of the award, Angel Di Maria, spent only one season in isolation earlier than leaving the membership for Paris Saint-Germain.
In the meantime, Memphis Depay scored simply seven targets in 53 video games earlier than being kicked out by Jose Mourinho, whereas Alexis Sanchez solely scored 5 targets in 45 video games throughout a depressing spell on the membership on wages of £400,000 every week.
Fellow South American star Edinson Cavani loved a promising first season as quantity seven, scoring 17 targets in all competitions, however the determination has been made to award that honor to the returning Ronaldo in his place for the 2021/22 season.
The Portuguese aim machine’s return was finally short-lived as he made an explosive exit beneath supervisor Erik ten Hag, with Mount, who joined from Chelsea in the summertime of 2023, later taking up the honors.
All in all, the shirt is an albatross that has been wrapped across the necks of 1 outstanding determine after one other, and United will as soon as once more have to look inward to seek out its rightful holder.
Why Bruno Fernandes needs to be the brand new No. 7
Mount, who scored the opening aim within the final recreation in opposition to Sunderland, confirmed indicators of being a dependable asset beneath Amorim, with the Portuguese hailing him as a “correct footballer” after becoming a member of the membership lower than a 12 months in the past.
Nonetheless, as we have now already defined, the 26-year-old sadly can’t be trusted to remain injury-free and has made simply 53 appearances in all competitions since becoming a member of in a £55m deal.
Whether or not Mount stays or strikes on subsequent summer time, United can be smart to think about returning their No. 7 shirt with their ever-reliable captain Bruno Fernandes on the again. He definitely deserves and deserves such an honor.
Described up to now by The Hag as a ‘genius’, Fernandes has been a key determine in all features of the membership over the previous 5 years, not too long ago reaching the milestone of 100 targets in 298 appearances.
The 31-year-old, who additionally offered 86 assists, has lengthy been United’s predominant supplier and goal-getter, a reality solely underlined final season as he completed the season with 38 targets concerned throughout all fronts.
Regardless of contemplating leaving final summer time and most not too long ago amid curiosity from Saudi Arabia, the Purple Devils captain stays loyal to the membership and seems to be having fun with his talismanic standing as a central determine within the workforce.
The previous Sporting CP man was a game-changer for United from the off, regardless of his early shock at Previous Trafford, drawing comparisons to That Man Cantona and although these round him might have struggled.
Sadly, the silverware hasn’t been as profitable because it has been for the reason that Frenchman’s arrival in 1992, however Fernandes is not any much less a heroic determine, shouldering the duty on a couple of event.
Like Cantona, he isn’t excellent – particularly after being red-lined 3 times in 2024/25 – however the typically flamable playmaker greater than makes up for it with repeated genius.
He might have missed two penalties this season, however Fernandes has by no means been one to shrink back from stress and the highlight, and has proven all of the qualities of a participant who deserves to be included as a quantity seven alongside the likes of Cantona and Ronaldo.
Maybe it will be merciless to deprive Mount of his place, however few would argue that Fernandes deserves such recognition and a well-deserved promotion.
