JADON SANCHO has FINALLY joined Manchester United – and is expected to take the ‘cursed’ No7 jersy.The England ace, 21, has completed his £73million move from Borussia Dortmund and will rake in £350,000 a week after putting pen to paper on a five-year deal.
Jadon Sancho is set to take the ‘cursed’ No7 shirt at Man Utd
Sancho will now follow in the footsteps of Old Trafford greats like George Best, David Beckham, Eric Cantona and Cristiano Ronaldo in wearing the No7 shirt – taking it from Edinson Cavani, according to reports.
But that has not proven a good omen in recent years with the likes of Memphis Depay and Alexis Sanchez crumbling under the pressure of its history.
For 50 years, the club’s icons bore that shirt with pride, and did it justice.
But since Ronaldo donned it for the final time in 2009, no one has truly dealt with the burden of expectation.
Here, SunSport takes a look back at the superstars to wear the hallowed shirt – and how they fared…
EDINSON CAVANI, 2020-present
Edinson Cavani wore the No7 shirt for the 2020-21 season but is set to give it to SanchoCredit: AFP – GettySuccess at United
Appearances – 39Goals – 17No trophies
AFTER missing out on Sancho a year ago, United turned to Cavani, signing the Uruguayan on a free transfer after his contract at Paris Saint-Germain expired.
Cavani went a ways to ending the curse of the shirt, scoring 17 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions in his first season.
But Cavani was never a long-term solution to the problem, with Sancho set to wear it proudly for years to come.
Will he live up to the likes of Beckham and Cantona or end up as another Sanchez? Speaking of whom…
ALEXIS SANCHEZ, 2018-2020
Credit: Getty ImagesAlexis Sanchez failed to live up to expectations at Old Trafford
Success at UnitedAppearances – 45
Goals – 5
No trophies
After four glorious seasons with Arsenal, Chilean star Sanchez appeared to be a no-brainer when United added him to their ranks for £32m.
And Robin Van Persie had previously shown that he could adapt from a move from North London.
However, Sanchez has been a major disappointment – a shadow of the player who ripped defences apart at the Emirates Stadium.
Just five goals in 45 appearances, he is deemed surplus to requirements – shipped out to Inter Milan on loan before securing a permanent move on a free transfer.
MEMPHIS DEPAY, 2015-16
Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Memphis Depay suffered curse of the Manchester United No7 shirt
Success at UnitedAppearances – 53
Goals – 7
No trophies
Memphis was immediately handed the No7 jersey by Louis van Gaal after signing for £25MILLION from PSV.
But, despite the hype surrounding his arrival, it was just constant disappointment for the Dutchman, and he left to join Lyon on loan after 12 months, which soon became a permanent deal.
Depay quickly rediscovered his top form with the French giants and has now joined Barcelona ahead of the 2020-21 season.
The Dutchman managed just seven goals in 53 games he managed with United.
GEORGE BEST, 1963-74
Credit: Getty Images
George Best celebrates his goal against Benfica in 1968 European Cup final
Success at UnitedAppearances — 474
Goals — 181First Division (2) — 1964-65, 1966-67European Cup — 1968Football Writers’ Player of the Year — 1968Ballon d’Or — 1968Ballon d’Or third place — 1971
In an era where shirt numbers were not assigned, Best donned it in 141 of his 474 games.
In 1966, he wore it in what is generally considered his greatest-ever performance, netting twice as United battered the great Benfica 5-1 in Lisbon — and against the same opponents in the European Cup final two years later.
Best is considered by many the most naturally gifted footballer to have come out of Britain.
BRYAN ROBSON — 1981-94
Credit: Getty Images
‘Captain Marvel’ Bryan Robson was always there when Manchester United needed him
Success at UnitedAppearances — 461
Goals — 99Premier League (2) — 1992-93, 1993-94FA Cup (4) — 1982-83, 1984-85, 1989-90League Cup — 1991-92European Cup Winners’ Cup — 1990-91European Super Cup — 1991
Immediately picked up the No7 shirt, despite Steve Coppell still being at the club.
‘Captain Marvel’ was unlucky to play in a United side which failed to challenge for the title during the 1980s — and is the club’s longest-serving captain, who won 90 England caps.
A leader whose influence was apparent as his two goals famously helped the Red Devils overturn a 2-0 deficit against Barcelona in one of Old Trafford’s most glorious nights in 1984.
ERIC CANTONA — 1992-97
Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Eric Cantona was the catalyst for Manchester United success in 1990s
Success at UnitedAppearances — 185
Goals — 93Premier League (4) — 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1996-97FA Cup (2) — 1993-94, 1995-96PFA Players’ Player of the Year — 1993-94Football Writers’ Player of the Year — 1995-96Ballon d’Or third place — 1993
First player to be officially assigned the No7 shirt.
Cantona was the catalyst, who helped transform United from nearly men to Premier League champions.
He won the title in four of his five seasons at the club — and the only time he failed to was when he was banned for eight months for kung-fu kicking a Crystal Palace fan.
DAVID BECKHAM — 1992-03
David Beckham graduated from No28 to No7Credit: News Group Newspapers LtdSuccess at United
Appearances — 394Goals — 85Premier League (6) — 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2002-03FA Cup (2) — 1995-96, 1998-99Champions League — 1998-99Intercontinental Cup — 1999Ballon d’Or runner up — 1999Fifa World Player of the Year runner up — 1999, 2001
An academy graduate who started off as No28, before moving up through the No24, No10 and eventually No7 shirt when Cantona left.
Beckham provided vital assists in the Champions League quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in 1999 as United completed an incredible Treble.
He wore the shirt during his peak years at the club and established himself as the best set-piece taker in world football.
CRISTIANO RONALDO — 2003-09
Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Cristiano Ronaldo was handed No.7 shirt at age of 18 and thrived in it
Success at UnitedAppearances — 292
Goals — 118Premier League (3) — 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09FA Cup — 2003-04League Cup (2) — 2005-06, 2008-09Champions League — 2007-08Fifa Club World Cup — 2008Ballon d’Or — 2008Fifa World Player of the Year — 2008Football Writers’ Player of the Year (2) — 2006-07, 2007-08PFA Players’ Player of the Year (2) — 2006-07, 2007-08PFA Players’ Young Player of the Year award — 2006-07Ballon d’Or runner up — 2007, 2009Fifa World Player of the Year runner-up — 2007, 2009
Replaced Beckham and, at the tender of age of 18, was handed the most prestigious shirt at the club.
But Ronaldo thrived under the pressure and went from strength-to-strength.
Won a trophy in all but one season and became United’s fourth Ballon d’Or winner.
MICHAEL OWEN — 2009-12
Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd
Michael Owen wasn’t the worst player, but never justified No.7 shirt
Success at UnitedAppearances — 52
Goals — 17Premier League — 2010-11League Cup — 2009-10
In the whole of world football, only Lionel Messi would have been fit to fill the huge chasm left behind by Ronaldo in 2009.
Injury-prone Owen was nearly 30, had just been released by recently-relegated Newcastle and was only signed as back-up after United had missed out on Karim Benzema.
Highs included a last-gasp derby winner, League Cup final goal and Champions League hat-trick, but never came close to doing the No7 shirt justice.
ANTONIO VALENCIA — 2009-19 (No7 for 2012-13 season)
Credit: Getty Images
Antonio Valencia reverted back to No.25 after poor season with No.7 shirt
Success at UnitedAppearances — 339
Goals — 25Premier League (2) — 2010-11, 2012-13FA Cup — 2015-16League Cup (2) — 2009-10, 2016-17
Europa League – 2016-17
United’s 2011-12 Player of the Year was then handed the No7 shirt after three seasons wearing the No25 — and it was again worn by a right-winger.
However, while Sir Alex Ferguson led his men to a 13th title, Valencia endured without doubt his worst seasons at the club.
At the end of the campaign, he requested the No25 shirt again and there was no No7 during David Moyes’ reign.
ANGEL DI MARIA — 2014-15
Credit: Getty Images
Despite his staggering fee, it was a disastrous spell in Manchester for Angel Di Maria
Success at UnitedAppearances — 32Goals — 4
United and English football’s then record signing at £59.1million.
Di Maria arrived from Real Madrid after a man of the match performance in the Champions League final, and initially looked a good signing.
But his form dipped drastically, and he became a liability. Sold to Paris Saint-Germain after just one season for £44m.
Man Utd wages revealed as Jadon Sancho becomes club’s second highest-paid star on £350k a week after £73m transfer More
