Who will wear the No. 7 jersey for Manchester United?

Michael Owen has declared on Twitter that the boss informed him that the club are letting him go. He made himself an instant hero among United supporters with the 95th minute winner at Old Trafford in pulsating 4-3 derby win of 2009. Michael Owen was Ferguson’s shock swoop of the summer three years ago; what was even more shocking was Owen being handed Manchester United‘s famed and fabled No.7 shirt. After Cristiano Ronaldo left United for sunny Spain, United fans and the football world in general were eagerly waiting for the superstar signing at Old Trafford to wear the No.7. Three years on..the signing never came. Instead, Owen was handed the legendary jersey, earlier worn with great pride by the likes of Robson, Cantona, Beckham and Ronaldo. In retrospect though, Sir Alex’s move seems to be a good one. Anyone who will be given the No.7 will inevitably be compared to Ronaldo and the pressure will be too much to cope with. So Owen , an experienced and thorough professional was handed the shirt.

Now with Owen set to leave in the summer, who will flaunt the No.7 at the back of their shirt next season? Let’s take a look at the 7 probable candidates.

1. Wayne Rooney

Inevitably the first name that comes to mind. Rooney has almost carried the entire burden of the team on his shoulders. Despite facing an odd hiccup in the name of a contract negotiation last October, he is still a darling of the Stertford End. However, Rooney already dons the prestigious No.10 jersey at Old Trafford which seems to be perfect for him, given the position he likes to play behind the striker. Compared to the legendary Sir Bobby Charlton ever since he made the big money move from Everton on transfer deadline day in 2004, its only natural that Rooney will wear No.10 made famous by Sir Bobby. Moreover Sir Alex Ferguson will not want to unsettle Wayne when the team needs him most. So, Rooney with the No.7 on his back next season is highly unlikely.

2. Nani

The United No.7 has always been associated with flair and flamboyance. In United’s current squad, Nani fits the bill perfectly. Never shy of showboating or exaggerated celebrations, Nani is a sure shot shirt-seller. Criticized often for failing to step out of Ronaldo’s shadow, Nani has finally delivered the goods in the last two seasons and made himself a regular at Old Trafford. He is a kind of player United fans would love to see run down the wings, but his inability to deliver in the biggest of matches could prove to be a roadblock to his claim for the No.7 jersey. Can he handle the pressure that comes with the No.7 shirt? A question Sir Alex will have to give a thought on, before he makes this important decision.

3. Ashley Young

Despite an injury setback and a dip in form around mid-season, Ashley Young has made an impact at Old Trafford in his debut season. A winger with flair, ability to beat full backs and scoring some magnificent goals; Ashley Young would be an ideal No.7. He never had a problem being singled out in a team as he was a central attacking figure for Aston Villa and Watford before moving to United. His on-field antics might not be very pleasing to the eye and can potentially hurt his chances to claim this famous shirt. Though, No.7 to Young and Scholes to play in No.18 again could be the most realistic option for Sir Alex.

4. Antonio Valencia

He was included to the Manchester United setup along with the lies of Owen and Obertan in the summer of Ronaldo’s departure. Tipped as a direct replacement for the Portuguese, it was believed that Valencia would be given the No.7 jersey. He has quickly established himself as a favourite among the Old Trafford faithful with his direct approach to wing play. The fact that he won the awards for players’ player of the season and the fans’ player of the season on Monday’s annual club awards, proves that he has been a pivotal figure to this United side. It’s no small feat, when someone like Pep Guardiola terms him as the world’s best winger. Although, his effectiveness to the team is unquestionable, he may fall short of the flair and fancy feet in his bid for the No.7 shirt.

5. Danny Welbeck

This seems an outrageous claim especially because Welbeck is very young and has just had his first full season in United’s first team. But Danny Welbeck has proven throughout the season that he is in the first team to stay there. Danny has managed to keep Hernandez out of the team for large parts of this season. Welbeck is not one to shrink on the big occasion as was evident from his performances against City in the FA cup and in the league games against Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Everton respectively. United looked likely to make something happen in the drab derby affair at the Etihad only after Welbeck’s introduction. He has just signed a new contract at Old Trafford and Ferguson can make a real statement to Manchester City by giving the legendary No.7 jersey to local lad nurtured through the ranks of the academy and not bought by splashing millions. But will Sir Alex Ferguson take the gamble ?

6. Shinji Kagawa

With Sir Alex already announcing that there will be 2-3 signings in the summer, Shinji Kagawa looks almost certain to play at Old Trafford next season. He does not lack flair and can step up for the big occasion as he did for Dortmund against Bayern Munich last Saturday in the DFB-Pokal final. He already holds the No.10 shirt for Japan, previously worn by the legendary Shunsuke Nakamura. But with all due respect to Dortmund , this is different club. Can he handle the pressure of playing at the highest level and the legendary status of the No.7 shirt in his debut season ?

The No.7 Shirt at Manchester United is much more than just a number on the back of a shirt. It is a symbol of pride for the Old Trafford faithful. It carries the showmanship of Best, the spirit of Robson, the flamboyance of Cantona, the loyalty of Beckham and the flair of Ronaldo. Who will Sir Alex Ferguson chose to uphold the cult status of the famous jersey? It makes for a nice debate among Manchester United supporters over the summer.