Now that Cristiano Ronaldo has departed Old Trafford, who will take the number seven shirt?’
Cristiano Ronaldo has left Manchester United leaving the famous number seven shirt vacant once again. (Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United just over a month ago after a tumultuous second spell at Old Trafford and it raised many questions for the club.
Many fans will be focusing on who United will bring in to replace him in January given there is now a hole in the forward line, but once that has been resolved thoughts will turn to which player will next take the mantle of being the club’s famous number seven next season.
The player will not only have the honour of wearing the number that Ronaldo donned during his two spells at the club but greats such as David Beckham, Eric Cantona, Bryan Robson and George Best wore before him.
However, it has not always been smooth sailing for those chosen to wear the number seven. Antonio Valencia, Memphis Depay, Alexis Sanchez and Angel Di Maria have all wore the shirt and all failed to live up to the expectations attached to it, so whoever is chosen will want to avoid joining that list.
So who in the current United shirt could be bequeathed the honour of wearing a number that carries such weight?
Jadon Sancho
Sancho’s United career has not gone to plan so far but many fans hope that he will find his feet under Erik ten Hag. It was also expected that when the forward originally joined the club, he would inherit the number from Edinson Cavani once he had departed, but when Ronaldo rejoined later in the same transfer window, that idea was kicked into the long grass.
Sancho showed his incredible talent while at Borussia Dortmund and has shown glimpses while at Old Trafford but is yet to fully show why United sanctioned a £72m move for him. It’s a big second half of the season for the 22-year-old all around, but if he shows his pedigree he could be rewarded at the end of it with the number seven shirt.
Antony
United’s number sevens, for the most part, have been exciting players who drive the game forward (in theory anyway) and when Antony was signed from Ajax this is what many fans expected he would do. The reality has been a lot less exciting as of right now, but with United finally starting to play the way Ten Hag wants, the second half of the season could let fans see the best of the Brazillian.
If he does, the number seven shirt could be his.
Alejandro Garnacho
An explosive young winger from the academy who is making a name for himself with a number of good performances? Sounds like a player that many United fans would love to see don the number seven shirt.
Garnacho is an incredible talent and has quickly endeared himself to the United faithful with moments like the last-minute winner against Fulham before the World Cup. With the first two options hardly setting Old Trafford alight as things stand, the timing could be just right for the Argentinian.
Amad
Probably the most unlikely shout for the number seven shirt on this list. Given that no one is a standout candidate for the number seven shirt currently, it could be put on ice for a season or two (unless a big name comes through the door who wants it).
Amad has been impressing on loan for Sunderland this season and many expect him to become part of United’s main squad next season. He’s played the long game so far but continued to impress and show why the club sanctioned a move for him and if he continues his upwards trajectory, the number seven shirt could be waiting at the end of the tunnel for him.
Source: dailylifeworld.com
