The number 7 shirt has become an indelible symbol at Manchester United. A shirt passed down through the generations by the greatest players to ever step onto the Old Trafford pitch.
The 18-year-old has quickly become one of the most exciting talents the Red Devils have.
George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, David Beckham, and Cristiano Ronaldo are the names associated with the number 7 shirt of Man Utd for more than 40 years. Ronaldo even ‘lit up’ the number 7 shirt again in his first season back at Old Trafford. But it was he who made this shirt number vacant, after a controversial interview and moving to Saudi Arabia to play.
However, not everyone who chooses to wear the legendary shirt meets expectations. After Ronaldo first left in 2009, Michael Owen, Antonio Valencia, Angel Di Maria, Memphis Depay, Alexis Sanchez, and Edinson Cavani were all unable to play as expected by the fans.
Man Utd need a special type of player to thrive under the pressure of wearing the number 7 shirt, someone with supreme confidence and the ability to get fans out of their seats. Maybe that’s why the club is considering giving it to Alejandro Garnacho even though he only made his first team debut some 14 months ago.
Even at just 18 years old – the Argentinian star will be the first teenager worthy of wearing this shirt since Ronaldo in 2003. Garnacho has made a special impression on Man Utd fans since entering the field. match against Chelsea last April. The former Atletico Madrid talent almost immediately established himself as one of the most exciting players at the club.
The Argentinian star will be the first teenager worthy of wearing this shirt since Ronaldo in 2003
Garnacho is currently wearing the number 49, but this teenager also makes no secret of his dream to one day receive greater expectations. In April, Garnacho liked a tweet that read: “Give Garnacho the number 7 shirt.” His enduring admiration for the last person to own this shirt is something that has been clearly shown.
In his first start for Man Utd, meeting Sheriff Tiraspol in October, the Argentinian player had the opportunity to side with his idol. After the match, he posted a photo with Ronaldo with the caption: “I don’t know if it’s real or a dream.”Garnacho treasured the ball given to him by Ronaldo after the player scored a hat-trick in 2022. He even imitated the famous ‘Siuuu’ celebration.
The young Argentine player wanted the number 7 shirt so much that he got a tattoo of a boy walking with his father wearing this number on his back. Garnacho has made no secret of his dream of wearing Man Utd’s number 7 shirt, and after what he has shown, he is gradually proving to the board of directors as well as Erik ten Hag that he is worthy of that honor.