Manchester United have firmly backed new signing Mason Mount and will hope that he can break the No 7. ‘curse’ that has lingered at the club since Cristiano Ronaldo departed Old Trafford for Real Madrid in 2009. The Red Devils confirmed the potential £60m signing of Mount on Wednesday from Chelsea, as Erik ten Hag clearly is prepared for the England midfielder to go on to be a huge success at Old Trafford.
The Mirror have claimed that following a conversation between Mount and Ten Hag, the Dutch boss offered him the famous No. 7 shirt after telling the 24-year-old that he can handle the pressure that comes with it. The jersey has been worn by the likes of Ronaldo, George Best and David Beckham in the past, but Ten Hag believes he can follow in their footsteps.
However, in recent years those that have been bestowed the famed number have struggled to live up to expectations. Since Ronaldo left for a then-world record fee 14 years ago, Michael Owen took over for three seasons but failed to live up to the heights he had previously set in his career.
Then Antonio Valencia took over and while he had a stellar career at Old Trafford, gradually moved into a right-back – a non-traditional role for a United No. 7. The Ecuadorian seemed to agree and later switched to the 25 shirt, leaving room for big-money signing Angel Di Maria to be the latest star to take up the jersey.
The Argentina winger and his family failed to adapt to life in Manchester, however, and left for Paris Saint-Germain after just one year in the Premier League. After a bright start to his United career, the £59.7m signing lost his way in the second half of the season under Louis van Gaal and the club did not put a fight to keep him amid interest from PSG.
Another bright young talent in the form of Memphis Depay took over from Di Maria, but he lasted just 18 months at Old Trafford before being shipped out to Lyon. The supposed ‘curse’ was in full effect as Depay failed to make a single start in his second league season at United, before handing the No. 7 to Alexis Sanchez.
Sanchez had been one of the star performers in the league at Arsenal and he was seen as a major coup, the man who had earned his new No. 7 kit and was ready to emulate the legends of previous decades. He went on to become one of the most disappointing signings in recent years at United, eventually leaving on a free transfer to Inter Milan.
Edinson Cavani had an impressive spell with the kit next, before he handed it back to Ronaldo when the Portuguese striker returned – though his second time in Manchester ended with a public spat with Ten Hag before having his contract torn up.
Mount will be hoping he can return the No. 7 to its previous glory but will be boosted by the fact that he has the backing of his new boss, as he looks to begin his United career on a positive note following a £60m transfer.
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