Mount wore the 'legendary' number 7 shirt at Man Utd.

New signing Mason Mount was surprisingly given the number 7 shirt at Man Utd, a number most recently worn by superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

The number 7 shirt at Manchester United is considered "legendary," as many famous players have worn it throughout their careers at the club, such as George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, David Beckham, and Cristiano Ronaldo. However, since Ronaldo left Man Utd in the summer of 2009, no player wearing the number 7 has had the same impact as their predecessors. These players include Michael Owen, Antonio Valencia, Angel di Maria, Memphis Depay, Alexis Sanchez, and Edinson Cavani.

Mason Mount wearing the number 7 shirt at Man Utd. Photo: MUFC — Mason Mount wearing the number 7 shirt at Man Utd. Photo: *MUFC*

In the summer of 2021, Ronaldo returned to Man Utd and asked Cavani to let him wear the number 7 shirt again. However, the Portuguese superstar's return was not as impressive as before, and he left the team at the end of 2022 after terminating his contract early. Since then, the number 7 shirt at Man Utd has been vacant.

This number is usually reserved for wingers or forwards, so it going to Mount was a surprise. Initially, the English media suggested Mount would wear his familiar number 19, as he did during his time at Chelsea. 19-year-old left winger Alejandro Garnacho was also aiming for the number 7, but his wish was denied too late due to Mount's arrival. However, there was also a central midfielder who wore the number 7 at Man Utd, like Robson.

Robson once said that the prestige of wearing the number 7 shirt came from Best's era, and he was proud to wear it for 12 years at Man Utd. After Robson left, Cantona was given the shirt even though he preferred the number 10. "But the number 7 has a significant meaning for Man Utd, it belongs to a free-spirited, creative player," Cantona explained. "Manager Alex Ferguson gave it to me and I liked it immediately, because I like to play freely, like on the street."

Cantona left Man Utd in 1997 and the number 7 shirt was given to the then-young talent David Beckham. Like Cantona, Beckham preferred the number 10 and he cried when he didn't get that shirt. "But my dad was a huge Man Utd fan, so he was very proud that I got to wear the number 7," Beckham said.

Beckham left Manchester United in the summer of 2003 to join Real Madrid, but his number 7 shirt immediately found a new owner. Manager Ferguson surprised everyone by giving it to 18-year-old newcomer Ronaldo. "I already knew what the number 7 meant at Manchester United, so when I received this shirt from Ferguson, I was very emotional," Ronaldo said. "He's a very experienced manager, and giving me this shirt shows how much he trusts me."

Mount wore the 'legendary' number 7 shirt at Man Utd. — Man Utd announced Mason Mount will wear the number 7 shirt.

Best, Beckham, and Ronaldo were the three players who wore the number 7 shirt when Manchester United won the European Cup or Champions League three times. Robson wore the shirt when Man Utd won the Premier League for the first time, while Cantona helped the team become a powerhouse in the competition.

Mount, now 24 years old, trained at Chelsea's academy since he was 6. He was Chelsea's best player in the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 seasons, helping the team win the Champions League in 2021. He joined Man Utd for an initial transfer fee of $69 million and has signed a five-year contract with the "Red Devils".

Hoang An

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