As Dutch winger Memphis Depay leaves for Lyon, we take a look at the last four players who wore the club’s treasured No. 7. For a club that has had illustrious players like George Best, Eric Cantona, Bryan Robson, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo don the iconic No. 7 jersey, it is rather ironic that three of the last four players to put on the coveted jersey have found themselves out of the club.
So has United’s No. 7 shirt become a curse? And will the Red Devils ever find a player to do justice to the legacy of the shirt, and play the United way?
Here we take a look at the last four players who wore the No.7 and how they fared:
#1 Michael Owen
For most Premier League fans, United signing the former England and Liverpool striker in 2009 came out of the blue. Owen was immediately handed the jersey left vacant by Cristiano Ronaldo. Owen is most famously remembered for scoring the stoppage time winner against derby rivals Man City, as United won 4-3.
The English striker also grabbed the decisive opening goal on his Champions League debut against CSKA Moscow. But injuries, like they did throughout his career, plagued him here as well, as Owen was largely an unused substitute and got regular action only against the weaker sides in the League Cup.
The following season started brightly for the former Kop favourite as he featured regularly for the Red Devils during pre-season and scored a brace against Scunthorpe United in the League Cup along with the crucial equaliser against Bolton.
Owen was now being used as an impact substitute from the bench and was a crucial member of the squad until a groin injury meant that he was again side lined. He ended up scoring against Blackpool in a 4-1 win on the final day of the season and picked up his first Premier League winners medal.
By now the presence of compatriot Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov and the emergence of Danny Welbeck and Mexican forward Javier Hernandez meant that Owen’s first team chances were limited. United decided to let him go at the end of the season after his three-year deal expired.
It is fair to say that the former Liverpool striker never fully established himself as a regular in the side owing to injuries, inconsistency and the presence of other established and emerging strikers.
#2 Antonio Valencia
Soon after Michael Owen’s exit, Ecuadorian winger Antonio Valencia was handed the No. 7 jersey after a wonderful season that saw him win United’s Player’s Player of the Year award and also the club’s Goal of the Season award for his goal against Blackburn.
People even compared him to the legendary Brazilian left-back Roberto Carlos. Many around the club felt that it would be befitting for the enterprising and pacy, ex-Wigan winger to don the coveted jersey and hoped that he would follow the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo and continue his blistering start at Old Trafford.
Unfortunately for both Valencia and United’s supporters, his form nosedived the following season. For some reason, he was unable to beat defenders while in possession with the consummate ease of the previous two campaigns.
On the plus side, though, his partnership with the marauding Brazilian right-back Rafael was lauded and his positional sense while defending was also appreciated. It was largely believed that the pressure of wearing the No. 7 had gotten to him and that he wasn’t his usual self. He quickly switched back to the No. 25 shirt as he looked for a reversal of fortunes.
Thankfully, for him, his form did pick up although he wasn’t as effective and scintillating as he was when he first turned out for the Red Devils. He remained a valuable member of the side, though.
Currently, Valencia is still at the club and has become a regular starter for United. He is still very good going forward and at making overlapping runs but the jury is still out on his defending. It seems like a long time ago when he was the club’s go-to winger.
#3 Angel Di Maria
Di Maria arrived in 2014 to much fanfare and expectation. He immediately inherited the No. 7 shirt. He was likened to former Real Madrid teammate, Ronaldo and was expected to catapult United back into Europe’s elite. He was hailed as a “Galactico” after United shattered the previous Premier League record and signed him for a record £59 million.
After making an encouraging debut against Burnley, Di Maria showed his skill with a wonderfully struck free kick against QPR as United coasted to a 4-0 win. He then assisted two goals and scored a wonderful chip against Leicester as United raced to a 3-0 lead at half-time but little did he and his team know that they would lose the game 5-3. For his excellent contributions until then, the Argentine won the Player of the Month award in September.
Just when everyone thought that United had another world beater on their hands, tragedy struck as the Argentine was struck down with a hamstring injury till the New Year. Many believed that he was never the same player ever since.
After scoring on his return to the side, Di Maria was inexplicably used as a forward against the Saints as United lost 1-0. His playing style was such that he constantly gave away the ball and this resulted in him being dropped by manager van Gaal who insisted in his side maintaining possession.
He never fully adjusted to this new role and bad form followed as he was sent off for diving in a crunch cup game against Arsenal. He soon found himself spending more time on the bench than in the eleven as the manager often preferred Juan Mata to the Argentine due to his ability to track back and contribute defensively.
In the end, despite creating the highest number of chances for his side and having the second highest assists in the league, Di Maria was unfairly judged as an expensive flop and the club’s worst signing since compatriot Juan Sebastian Veron. He was eventually sold to French champions Paris Saint-Germain, where he thrived as he helped PSG win the league last season.
#4 Memphis Depay
Dutchman Depay caught the eye of the world’s best clubs after playing an important role in his country’s run to the 2014 World Cup semi-finals. Later on that season, he played a starring role for PSV as they won the Eredivisie as he was the league’s top scorer and also the best player.
United signed him for a fee of £25 million after beating off interest from rivals Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain. The Dutch winger, only 20 at the time, was compared to both compatriot, Arjen Robben, and Ronaldo. Fans were eager to not only see him in action but were also thrilled to have another player with excellent dead ball skills on their hands.
He was glad to be playing for Van Gaal’s side again as many former and current Red Devils felt that he (i.e. Depay) had the potential to become a world-class player. Upon his request, he wore the legendary No. 7 jersey.
After a lacklustre debut, Depay became the toast of the side after scoring two goals against Club Brugge in a Champions League qualification match. He continued that form in the return leg as he assisted in skipper, Wayne Rooney’s goal. Soon after, he scored his first Premier League goal against Sunderland.
Many attributed his early struggles in the league to his flamboyant lifestyle off the pitch. This resulted in him being dropped from the side. He made his comeback against Watford while playing as a striker and scored a delightful volley to end up winning his first Man of the Match award.
However, his lethargic defending cost United dearly in the next game as Chelsea scored an equaliser in stoppage time. Depay earned a lot of criticism and flak from pundits and fans alike. He continued his rich vein of form against Midtjylland in the Champions League but was unable to become a regular fixture in the side. Furthermore, the emergence of Anthony Martial on the left meant that his opportunities were limited.
This season Depay was largely a peripheral figure, being utilised as a late substitute in most games. His tendency to give away possession at crucial junctures meant that he rarely featured for the Red Devils. He was sold to Olympique Lyonnais in the January window.
All in all, it is fair to say that none of United’s last four players were able to make the celebrated No. 7 jersey their own for long periods. It will be interesting to see who next wears this shirt and whether he writes his name in United folklore or ends up failing to live up to the lofty expectations that this jersey brings with it.
