Alejandro Garnacho could potentially inherit the number 7 shirt at Manchester United next season. In light of this, let's review the history of the "number 7" players at the Red Devils, highlighting their successes and failures.
#1 GEORGE BEST A symbol both on and off the field, Best remains the only Northern Irish player to win the Ballon d'Or after becoming Manchester United's top scorer for six consecutive seasons before departing in 1974. Best helped the Red Devils win two English league titles and the 1968 European Cup, contributing to the 4-1 victory over Benfica in the final with a goal.
#2 BRYAN ROBSON "Captain Marvel" was voted Manchester United's greatest ever player in a poll among former players in 2011. Robson's all-around performance in midfield made him a deserving recipient of this prestigious award. In total, Robson made 461 appearances for Manchester United, scoring 99 goals, and became the first English captain of the club to lift the FA Cup, Premier League, and Cup Winners' Cup.
#3 KEITH GILLESPIE After winning the FA Youth Cup with Manchester United in 1992, Gillespie followed in the footsteps of fellow countryman Best and was handed the number 7 shirt by Sir Alex Ferguson. However, he failed to live up to expectations at Old Trafford, leading to a loan move to Wigan in 1993 before being sold to Newcastle two years later.
#4 ERIC CANTONA When squad numbers were introduced in the Premier League in 1993/94, Manchester United had only one choice for their number 7 shirt, and that was "King Eric." Arriving at Old Trafford from Leeds in 1992, Cantona terrorized opposing defenses for five years, scoring spectacular goals as Ferguson's team began to dominate English football. Cantona may be remembered for his infamous kung-fu kick at Selhurst Park, but his legacy at Manchester United will never be forgotten.
#5 DAVID BECKHAM From a young winger, Beckham quickly developed into one of the standout stars during his time at Manchester United. Despite not always being favored by Sir Alex, Beckham played a crucial role in the Red Devils' success in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In the end, Beckham left Manchester United to join Real Madrid in 2003 after making nearly 350 appearances for the club.
#6 CRISTIANO RONALDO Succeeding Beckham was never an easy task for any player, but with his talent and confidence, Ronaldo quickly became a beloved figure at Old Trafford. Joining Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon as a teenager, Ronaldo rapidly progressed to become one of the world's greatest stars. He became the first Manchester United player to win the Ballon d'Or since George Best. Ronaldo turned the number 7 shirt into his own brand at Manchester United before joining Real Madrid in 2009 for a world-record transfer fee of £80 million.
#7 MICHAEL OWEN Owen arrived at Old Trafford in 2009 with high expectations, but injuries and competition with Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov hindered his career at Manchester United. Despite his efforts over three years, Owen's time at the Red Devils was largely unsuccessful. The former England international joined Stoke City in 2012 and retired a year later.
#8 ANTONIO VALENCIA Valencia took over the number 7 shirt in the 2012/13 season following Owen's departure. However, he couldn't handle the weight of the shirt and returned to his preferred number 25 in the 2013/14 season. Since then, the former Ecuadorian defender's form improved significantly, becoming a key figure in the starting lineup.
#9 ANGEL DI MARIA After a vacant season for the number 7 shirt, Manchester United handed it over to Di Maria, who joined the club from Real Madrid following an impressive performance, particularly in the 2013/14 Champions League final. However, the Argentine international quickly experienced a nightmare at Old Trafford under manager Louis van Gaal. He was sold to PSG after just one year in England, becoming one of the worst number 7s in Manchester United's history.
#10 MEMPHIS DEPAY Joining Manchester United for £25 million after an impressive season at PSV, Depay couldn't fulfill his potential under the immense pressure at Old Trafford. His best performances for Manchester United came in European competitions, but he soon became surplus to requirements under manager Jose Mourinho and was sold to Lyon in January 2017.
#11 ALEXIS SANCHEZ Arriving from Arsenal with great expectations, Sanchez quickly faded and became a massive financial burden for the club. He only scored five goals in 45 appearances for Manchester United before being loaned to Inter Milan in the 2019/20 season. The only thing people remember about Sanchez is his grand piano playing in his Manchester United unveiling video.
#12 EDINSON CAVANI Cavani joined Manchester United in October 2020 and was seen as a perfect addition to enhance the team's attacking prowess. However, the Uruguayan striker scored only 19 goals in three seasons, partly due to injuries and fitness issues. As a result, Cavani left as a free agent last summer, joining Valencia.
#13 CRISTIANO RONALDO Of course, Ronaldo reclaimed his old number upon returning to Manchester United, but things didn't go as planned. CR7 scored 18 goals in 30 Premier League matches in the 2021/22 season, but everything quickly turned sour after Manchester United appointed Erik ten Hag as the manager. Ultimately, Ronaldo's contract with Manchester United was terminated in November last year after publicly criticizing the club in a shocking interview with Piers Morgan. He now plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr.
