Manchester United has identified Alejandro Garnacho as the potential successor to Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic No.7 jersey.
The young Argentine player has demonstrated great potential during his debut season, impressing with three goals and two assists in 559 minutes of play in the Premier League.
Alejandro Garnacho has been earmarked to take on the club’s No.7 shirt.
According to a report by the Manchester Evening News, Alejandro Garnacho could be granted the highly sought-after No.7 shirt as a result of his impressive achievements.
Since Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from Manchester United in November, the No.7 jersey has remained unclaimed.
Ronaldo, aged 38, had his contract terminated before joining Al-Nassr, becoming the highest-paid athlete in history. At present, the 18-year-old Garnacho wears the No.49 shirt.
In April, Garnacho signed a new contract with Manchester United, extending his stay for five more years.
If he decides to embrace the No.7 shirt, which holds great significance as his footballing idol Ronaldo once wore it back in 2003, he would be the first teenager to receive this honor since Ronaldo himself.
However, among many Manchester United fans, the No.7 shirt has gained a reputation for being “cursed.”
Numerous renowned players and promising talents have shouldered the weight of this shirt, previously worn by legends like George Best, Eric Cantona, Bryan Robson, and David Beckham, only to struggle in leaving their mark on the club’s history.
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Recent memories bring to mind players like Alexis Sanchez, Angel Di Maria, Michael Owen, and Memphis Depay, who have all struggled to live up to expectations while wearing the No.7 shirt at Manchester United.
In Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to the club, he had a remarkable first season, scoring 24 goals.
However, even his individual brilliance couldn’t prevent Manchester United from enduring their worst-ever Premier League season.
Sadly, Ronaldo’s second year saw a significant decline in his form, finding the net only three times before his departure to Saudi Arabia.
Since then, other notable players such as Karim Benzema and Ruben Neves have also made their way to the Middle East.
There are even reports suggesting that more prominent stars like Bernardo Silva are set to follow suit.
