- Manchester United confirmed the signing of Mason Mount from Chelsea for £60m, the former blue was assigned with the famous number seven jersey.
- We look at the best players to ever wear the number seven jersey for Manchester United.
Manchester United confirmed the signing of Mason Mount from Chelsea for £60m, the former blue was assigned with the famous number seven jersey.
We look at the best players to ever wear the number seven jersey for Manchester United.
Eric Cantona
Eric Cantona. Photo/ Goal.com.
One of the most influential acquisitions of the Premier League era was Eric Cantona’s move to Manchester United.
In the first season of the Premier League, Manchester United was seventh in the standings when an accidental chat about Leeds’ interest in Denis Irwin led to the possibility that Cantona might go the other way.
The controversial Frenchman was permitted to leave for Old Trafford in a £1 million transfer, despite being a member of the Leeds squad who defeated the Red Devils to the title the previous season. His influence was felt right away, as Cantona spurred Sir Alex Ferguson’s team to victory, breaking a 26-year championship drought.
It was the start of a dominant era for the club, which won four of the first five Premier League titles with Cantona an integral presence in each. He scored 82 goals in 185 games, won PFA Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year awards, and produced countless moments of skill, swagger, and genius.
An all-time great at Manchester United and one of the club’s most beloved figures.
David Beckham
David Beckham.| PHOTO: Givemesport|
Following Cantona’s unexpected retirement at the conclusion of the 1996–1997 season, David Beckham was given the number seven jersey. Beckham had joined a talented group of academy graduates who had come through the club’s development system, and he had begun to establish a solid reputation with his risky passes and free-kick prowess.
As the midfielder became one of the most recognizable faces in the world, Beckham emerged as a football celebrity with the boy band good looks and pop star girlfriend. Along with his success on the field, Beckham also enjoyed success off it. He won six Premier League championships, three times led the league in assists, and was appointed England captain.
He played a key role in the club’s 1998–1999 triple victory, and when United won the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League, he was awarded the Ballon d’Or runner-up.
Before signing for Real Madrid for £23 million in 2003, Beckham made 262 league games with the Red Devils, scoring 62 goals, including a league-high 18 free kicks, and dishing out 80 assists.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is seen during Manchester United v Aston Villa at Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain, September 25, 2021. REUTERS/Phil Noble
Cristiano Ronaldo was forced to take David Beckham’s number seven jersey by Sir Alex Ferguson, an impossible responsibility for a youngster with no senior football experience. Ronaldo impressed Manchester United by wearing the opposing team’s uniform during a friendly match with Sporting Lisbon, and the quick-footed kid was quickly signed.
During his six years with the team, Ronaldo transformed from a frustrating flair player to a global superstar, propelling the Red Devils to three straight Premier League wins between 2007 and 2009. In the second, Ronaldo won the Ballon d’Or for the first time after scoring 42 goals across all competitions and helping his team win the Champions League.
Ronaldo won the PFA Player of the Year twice, the FWA Footballer of the Year twice, the PFA Young Player of the Year twice, the Premier League Golden Boot twice, and the European Golden Shoe once. He also scored 118 goals in all competitions.
He left for Real Madrid in 2009 in a then-record £80 million transfer before coming back to Manchester United in 2021 for a second stint. In 54 appearances following his return to Old Trafford, he scored 27 goals.
Edinson Cavani
Edinson Cavani. Photo/ Eurosport.
The veteran attacker established himself as a fan favorite over the course of two seasons at Old Trafford after being signed on as a free agent after breaking Paris Saint-Germain’s goal record during a successful stint in France.
In his debut season with the team, the Uruguayan scored 17 goals in 39 games, but injuries prevented him from matching those totals the following year. Full of modest effort, he gave up the number seven jersey in his second season after Cristiano Ronaldo made a comeback.
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