Although the shirt number may seem arbitrary to some, it is impossible to ignore the status and importance of the number seven shirt at Manchester United, as it has become synonymous with the club’s brightest and best players.
From Eric Cantona to David Beckham to Cristiano Ronaldo, the Red Devils’ shirt had a rightful home during its glorious 17 years in the Premier League, and all three wore it with flying colors.
But in the 16 years since Ronaldo left for Real Madrid, the No. 7 shirt has become something of a poisoned chalice, a cursed offering to a series of deluded and flattering new signings.
Incumbent Mason Mount has scored just five goals in his injury-plagued two years at Old Trafford, and questions are likely to be asked as to whether the Englishman deserves such an accolade in the first place.
Mount, who is talented but arguably unreliable due to his repeated stints on the treatment table, could well benefit from taking some of the strain and pressure off himself, and perhaps he already has the perfect successor in place in Ruben Amorim.
Manchester United’s number 7 curse after Ronaldo
Have United really recovered from the summer of 2009? With Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez out, Sir Alex Ferguson replaced him with Gabriel Aubertan, Antonio Valencia and the aging Michael Owen.
This drastic drop in quality is perhaps emblematic of the malaise that developed during the much-maligned Glazer regime, where early post-Ronaldo success quickly evaporated in the years following Ferguson’s retirement.
The arrival of Portuguese sensation-turned-man Owen as the club’s new No. 7 remains a real thorn in the side, with former England international – that His goal in the Manchester derby aside, he proved to be a forgotten man at Old Trafford.
The spot was then taken over by Valencia in the 2012-13 season, but the Ecuadorian quickly relinquished it and the next recipient of the award, Angel Di Maria, spent just one season in isolation before leaving the club for Paris Saint-Germain.
Meanwhile, Memphis Depay scored just seven goals in 53 games before being kicked out by Jose Mourinho, while Alexis Sanchez only scored five goals in 45 games during a miserable spell at the club on wages of £400,000 a week.
Fellow South American star Edinson Cavani enjoyed a promising first season as number seven, scoring 17 goals in all competitions, but the decision has been made to award that honor to the returning Ronaldo in his place for the 2021/22 season.
The Portuguese goal machine’s return was ultimately short-lived as he made an explosive exit under manager Erik ten Hag, with Mount, who joined from Chelsea in the summer of 2023, later taking over the honors.
All in all, the shirt is an albatross that has been wrapped around the necks of one prominent figure after another, and United will once again need to look inward to find its rightful holder.
Why Bruno Fernandes should be the new No. 7
Mount, who scored the opening goal in the last game against Sunderland, showed signs of being a reliable asset under Amorim, with the Portuguese hailing him as a “proper footballer” after joining the club less than a year ago.
However, as we have already explained, the 26-year-old unfortunately cannot be trusted to stay injury-free and has made just 53 appearances in all competitions since joining in a £55m deal.
Whether Mount stays or moves on next summer, United would be wise to consider returning their No. 7 shirt with their ever-reliable captain Bruno Fernandes at the back. He certainly deserves and deserves such an honor.
Described in the past by The Hag as a ‘genius’, Fernandes has been a key figure in all aspects of the club over the past five years, recently reaching the milestone of 100 goals in 298 appearances.
The 31-year-old, who also provided 86 assists, has long been United’s main provider and goal-getter, a fact only underlined last season as he finished the season with 38 goals involved across all fronts.
Despite considering leaving last summer and most recently amid interest from Saudi Arabia, the Red Devils captain remains loyal to the club and appears to be enjoying his talismanic status as a central figure in the team.
The former Sporting CP man was a game-changer for United from the off, despite his early shock at Old Trafford, drawing comparisons to That Man Cantona and even though those around him may have struggled.
Unfortunately, the silverware hasn’t been as successful as it has been since the Frenchman’s arrival in 1992, but Fernandes is no less a heroic figure, shouldering the responsibility on more than one occasion.
Like Cantona, he’s not perfect – especially after being red-lined three times in 2024/25 – but the sometimes combustible playmaker more than makes up for it with repeated genius.
He may have missed two penalties this season, but Fernandes has never been one to shy away from pressure and the spotlight, and has shown all the qualities of a player who deserves to be included as a number seven alongside the likes of Cantona and Ronaldo.
Perhaps it would be cruel to deprive Mount of his position, but few would argue that Fernandes deserves such recognition and a well-deserved promotion.
