Cristiano Ronaldo's timely departure from Manchester United has made one of the most iconic shirt numbers in all of football available.
The Portugal international, currently on Qatar 2022 World Cup duty for his country, has left the club by mutualy agreement following his bombshell interview with Piers Morgan in which he criticised his manager Erik ten Hag, employers the Glazer family, the club's training facilities and the likes of former teammates Wayne Rooney and gary Neville. No one was off limits.
It brings Ronaldo's second spell at United to an end following his arrival to much fanfare in summer last year, as Edison Cavani gracefully stepped aside to allow him to retake the No.7 shirt he had previously worn before his departure to Real Madrid in 2009.
Old Trafford legends such as George Best, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo (twice) have all worn the legendary Manchester United No.7 and Ronaldo's exit leaves the question - who will get to wear it next?
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While many players to don the iconic number have been loved by fans, there have been a few misses too.
For the cynics amongst us, it also harbours terrors of Michael Owen, Memphis Depay and Angel di Maria. The pressure of the shirt is so much that Antonio Valencia requested his old number back, such was his demise after wearing it for one season.
Ronaldo's return last summer and the goals that followed highlighted that it takes a certain type of player to handle such pressure, though Edinson Cavani's success the season before had already done much of the work.
Cavani became a fan favourite in his first campaign at the club, though it was always asterisked by the very nature of the post-pandemic season and the freak results it produced.
All of those who have famously donned the No.7 shirt before have not only been incredibly talented attacking stars, but they've also had the personality to match. Rival fans will dismiss it as arrogance. There is a degree of that, but more so it is confidence and an incredible amount of self-belief.
Those who have struggled with the shirt haven't had such unwavering faith in their own abilities, and the doubts have shown. Rather than being the number for the star player at the club, it became one bestowed upon players they wanted to carry such an influence, through sheer hope rather than a necessary belief.
Such a risk had worked for Ronaldo originally. He had no immediate desire to take the No.7 shirt when he arrived from Sporting Lisbon, but, most importantly, Sir Alex Ferguson believed he could. That ringing endorsement gave him the confidence to overcome early struggles, and before long, the Portuguese relished the responsibility placed on his shoulders.
United will want their next occupant of the No.7 shirt to be in a similar mould. Someone who is not only super talented and will sell lots of merchandise to keep the commercial department happy, but someone who also has the authority and confidence to ensure they are a success as it.
Right now, there appear to be two leading candidates for the upcoming vacancy. Jadon Sancho wore the No.7 during his time at Borussia Dortmund, and after a slow first season, he has begun to improve under Erik ten Hag.
The England international certainly has the trickery and talent to be deserving of the honour, though he'll need to do it on a consistent basis throughout the season if he is to become the unanimous choice.
He should be well accustomed to his surroundings at Old Trafford by this stage, something that might ease the pressure on him to deliver immediately, as others have done in the past.
The other candidate for the role would appear to be Antony. His debut strike against Arsenal proved he has the ability to deliver on the biggest stage, and the Brazilian has left fans purring with his trickery so far this campaign.
He has a similar level of self-belief and skills as many of the club's famous former No.7s and does not appear to be the type of player who would be detrimentally affected by the weight of the shirt number.
Again, the real test here is for Antony to have some consistent success in a United shirt under his belt in order to justify the number switch and prove he is a rightful heir to the legacy.
Of course, there are far more important factors than a squad number, but for Sancho and Antony, it is an achievable goal and a further incentive for them to keep up their hard work this season.
United won't be able to ever find another Ronaldo, but they'll need to find another No.7.
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