For some, a shirt quantity could seem arbitrary, though it’s onerous to disregard the standing and significance of the quantity seven at Manchester United, having grow to be synonymous with the membership’s brightest and greatest.
From Eric Cantona, to David Beckham, to Cristiano Ronaldo, the Pink Devils loved a glittering 17-year interval within the Premier League during which that shirt had a rightful house, with all three sporting it with distinction.
Within the 16 years since Ronaldo’s exit for Actual Madrid, nonetheless, the No.7 has grow to be one thing of a poisoned chalice, a cursed providing for a string of recent signings who’ve all flattered to deceive.
Its present incumbent, Mason Mount, has notably scored simply 5 targets throughout an injury-hit two-year spell at Outdated Trafford, with questions more likely to be requested over whether or not the Englishman was worthy of such an honour within the first place.
Proficient, however undoubtedly unreliable as a result of his repeated stints on the therapy desk, Mount might effectively profit from relieving that burden and stress on himself, with Ruben Amorim maybe already having the proper successor lined up.
Man Utd’s post-Ronaldo quantity seven curse
Have United ever really recovered from the summer season of 2009? Out went Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, with Sir Alex Ferguson securing Gabriel Obertan, Antonio Valencia and an ageing Michael Owen as their replacements.
That important drop in high quality maybe epitomises the malaise that has set in in the course of the much-maligned Glazer regime, with preliminary success post-Ronaldo having rapidly been extinguished within the years following Ferguson’s retirement.
To have gone from the Portuguese sensation to that man Owen because the membership’s new no.7 stays an actual headscratcher, with the previous England worldwide – that Manchester derby objective apart – proving one thing of a forgotten determine at Outdated Trafford.
The mantle was subsequently handed on to Valencia for 2012/13, though the Ecuadorian swiftly relinquished such standing, whereas the following recipient – Angel Di Maria – lasted only a solitary season earlier than departing the membership for Paris Saint-Germain.
Memphis Depay, in the meantime, scored simply seven instances in 53 video games earlier than being proven the door by Jose Mourinho, whereas Alexis Sanchez might solely hearth house 5 instances in 45 video games, throughout his depressing £400k-per-week stint on the membership.
Fellow South American star Edinson Cavani loved a promising first marketing campaign because the no.7 with 17 targets in all competitions, earlier than the choice was made at hand the returning Ronaldo the honour as a substitute, for the 2021/22 marketing campaign.
The Portuguese objective machine’s homecoming in the end proved short-lived, amid his explosive exit underneath Erik ten Hag, with Mount later taking up the honour following his 2023 summer season arrival from Chelsea.
All in all, the jersey has been an albatross across the neck for a succession of high-profile figures, with United now needing to look inwards to discover a rightful holder once more.
Why Bruno Fernandes needs to be the brand new quantity seven
The person who scored the opener in opposition to Sunderland final day trip, Mount has proven flashes that he generally is a go-to determine underneath Amorim, with the Portuguese coach lauding him as a “correct footballer” amid his arrival on the membership slightly below a 12 months in the past.
As already defined, nonetheless, the 26-year-old sadly cannot be trusted to remain injury-free, making simply 53 appearances in all competitions since becoming a member of on a £55m deal.
Whether or not Mount stays or goes subsequent summer season, it will be sensible for United to contemplate re-housing the quantity seven, with ever-reliable skipper, Bruno Fernandes, absolutely deserving and worthy of such an honour.
Described as a “genius” up to now by Ten Hag, Fernandes has been central to something and all the pieces good concerning the membership over the previous 5 years or so, not too long ago reaching a milestone of 100 targets from his now 298 appearances.
With an additional 86 assists so as to add into the equation, the 31-year-old has for therefore lengthy been United’s chief supplier and goal-getter, a reality emphasised solely final season, as he ended the marketing campaign with 38 objective involvements throughout all fronts.
Regardless of flirting with an exit each final summer season and through the newest window – amid curiosity from Saudi Arabia – the Pink Devils skipper has remained intently loyal to the membership, seemingly relishing his talismanic standing because the central determine within the aspect.
Proper from the off, the ex-Sporting CP man has been a game-changer for United, even whereas these round him may need suffered, with comparisons to that man Cantona having flooded in amid his early impression at Outdated Trafford.
Whereas the silverware has sadly not adopted within the diploma that it did after the Frenchman’s entrance in 1992, Fernandes is a equally heroic determine, carrying the accountability on his again repeatedly.
Like Cantona, he definitely is not good – having notably seen pink on three events in 2024/25 – however the at-times flamable playmaker greater than makes up for that together with his repeated genius.
Two penalties may need been missed this season, however Fernandes is rarely one to draw back from the stress and the limelight, displaying all of the attributes of a participant worthy of becoming a member of the likes of Cantona and Ronaldo as the following quantity seven.
It might maybe be a brutal act to grab that standing away from Mount, though few might argue in opposition to Fernandes being rewarded for such wonderful service with a well-deserved promotion.
