The number 7 shirt at Manchester United carries a lot of weight. It’s been worn by football legends like George Best, Eric Cantona and Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, recently, this famous shirt has caused some frustrations. Some fans even call it the ‘number 7 curse’ at United, due to the high transfer fees and poor performances from those who’ve worn it. Mason Mount is the latest player to wear the shirt, but his career has had a stuttering start due to injury.
Many players have faced similar challenges with the number 7 shirt before moving on.
Angel Di Maria, a 2014 signing, brought a wave of excitement to Old Trafford. After shining in the World Cup and Champions League final, he was the star signing that summer. He started off brightly at United, with a memorable goal against Leicester. However, his early success didn’t last. Clashes with then-boss Louis van Gaal and a drop in form led to his departure to PSG in 2015.
Memphis Depay, a promising young player, joined Manchester United from PSV for £25m. At just 21 years old and after Di Maria left, it seemed he would rule the left wing at Old Trafford. His close bond with fellow Dutchman and United manager Van Gaal made it seem like a perfect match. He started strong, especially against Club Brugge in a Champions League play-off. But as autumn turned to winter, his performances dipped.
A failed header back to David De Gea against Stoke City summed up a tough time for him and the club. When Jose Mourinho arrived in 2016, Depay struggled to get game time. In January 2017, after 53 games and seven goals, he moved to Lyon for around £16-17m, potentially rising to £22m with add-ons.
The unveiling of Alexis Sanchez at United in January 2018, was exciting for fans. A memorable moment was him playing the piano in the United strip – some might joke it was one of his best performances. After a head-turning victory against Manchester City in a thrilling 3-2 game at the Etihad, Sanchez unfortunately sparked disappointment later on.
Following his below-par second season which saw Mourinho leave and only five goals in 45 appearances, he transferred to Inter Milan in 2019. Sanchez later confessed: “I realised a lot of things. After my first training session, I got home and told my family and my agent can I not rip up my contract and go back to Arsenal?”.