Alejandro Garnacho is becoming a star for Manchester United and he’s earning the right to don the club’s most famous number.
After Alejandro Garnacho’s man of the match performance against Barnsley, it is no longer avoidable that he is the main man now at Manchester United.
Two goals and two assists – albeit against a lower-league opponent – showed the complete nature of his game and he now boasts seven goal contributions in six games this season. This form from Garnacho has blown away the Argentine press, but the No.7 will still be something the 20-year-old feels is eluding him.
Mason Mount was handed the No.7 shirt upon his £55m arrival at Old Trafford and at the time, eyebrows were raised over the decision. Questions over Mount were raised before ultimately it was decided Garnacho probably was not ready anyway.
However, for Garnacho this will have made it no less painful to see his dreams of becoming the latest Manchester United No.7 evaporate. But now just over a year later, he now looks the part and could absolutely fill that famous shirt.
This is something few have done over the past two decades at United.
Alejandro Garnacho is earning No.7
The No.7 at Manchester United is arguably football’s most iconic and therefore heavy shirt to wear. This has meant numerous high-profile players have struggled under its burden.
Mount follows Alexis Sanchez, Memphis Depay, Angel Di Maria, Antonio Valencia and Michael Owen as players who never quite worked out with the No.7 – Valencia went on to be a solid club captain but not with No.7 on his back.
In fact, since Ronaldo joined the club in 2003 only he and Edinson Cavani have earned the right to have the shirt.
However, in Garnacho’s mind, he believes he can be the next Cristiano Ronaldo, Eric Cantona or David Beckham for the Red Devils and the way he has started this season shows he is earning the right to wear the number rather than it being handed to him.
Garnacho has the persona of a United No.7, he is confident and sure of his ability which is how a player must be to succeed with such a historic number.
Contrary to what so many players at United have done, Garnacho has been putting in the work for the number as opposed to being handed it for nothing. So if his 2024/25 season continues along the lines it started, United could be left with a decision to make.
Manchester United could be forced into a decision
So with Garnacho catching fire donning the No.17 jersey, his ultimate desire will still be to follow in his idol’s footsteps and get the No.7 shirt.
This is all happening as Mount’s struggles through injury continue, these issues have seen him make just 23 appearances to date – scoring once and assisting once in this time.
Mount is an excellent player and it is worth pondering if, without the No.7, he would be much better as pressure would be lessened. Well if this season continues how it has begun, this could be Ineos’ thinking come next June.
Even without on-field reasons, the No.7 is so marketable and United are likely missing out by having a player who has been unremarkable in his time at the club so far.
Garnacho is an academy graduate who we have watched become better and better over the last three seasons to the point that he is now a sure starter for Erik ten Hag. So stripping Mount of the number could be beneficial for both players and the club – perhaps Mount could go on to have a Valencia-like remontada.
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