#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.
