It’s arguably the most famous shirt number at Manchester United. It’s been worn by the likes of George Best, Bryan Robson, David Beckham, Eric Cantona and the peerless Cristiano Ronaldo. But, since Antonio Valencia buckled under the weight of it last season, it’s been sadly vacant.
We have always liked Antonio Valencia as a player. He’s honest, hard working, powerful and fast. But those qualities alone have never been quite enough to get you into the halls of fame with that number on your back. To be a perfect number 7 at Manchester United you need to add sublime technique, daring and jaw-dropping unpredictability to that list.
After the performance of Adnan Januzaj at the weekend Manchester United have surely found the new man for the shirt. You can expect several high profile players to come into the club over the next year but they will all struggle to fulfil the criteria for the shirt as well as Januzaj does.
He has a long way to go to become a match winner week in week out like Cristiano Ronaldo or George Best were. He still needs to develop physically and still has a tendency to drift in and out of games. But, if he continues to improve on this trajectory, we could truly be talking about another Manchester United great in two or three years.
Januzaj has the ball skills of a player like Nani but also has the ingenious football brain that the Portuguese arguably lacks. He’s got the two-footedness of Cristiano Ronaldo to the point that you often forget which is his best peg. He has the confidence and swagger of a Cantona and the precision of Beckham. This guy is a truly exciting player to behold. Not since Cristinao Ronaldo was coming into his prime has there been a player who has generated this much excitement at the the club – a player who improves week on week in front of your very eyes – a player who’s limits are impossible to predict.
After a couple of frustrating years at the club I remember watching Cristiano Ronaldo play against Fulham on the opening day of his third season at Manchester United. Over that summer he had physically transformed himself from boy to man. And he tore Fulham apart – ultimately toying with them like a cat with a half-dead mouse.
Januzaj may not have Ronaldo’s explosive pace. But nor has he had the two year period of frustrating inconsistency. This guy has hit the ground running and has looked head and shoulders above his team mates for the last few games.
Many players have some of the qualities required to be Manchester United’s number 7. A few tick most of the boxes. But rarely do you see a lad who fits the bill completely. In Januzaj, Manchester United have found that man and he will become an absolute legend, if he stays at the club. He makes the game look easy like a true United number 7.
Let’s enjoy a clip while we wait for his next appearance. CLICK FOR JANUZAJ
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Michael
Jan 13, 2014 at 7:40 pm
Let’s not get too caried away just yet because I feel there is another player who has not been tried often enough and that’s Zaha. Let them play Zaha, Januzaj and Kagawa in the same line up as often as possible and watch the effect!
Moze
Jan 13, 2014 at 8:16 pm
Zaha is a much needed player moyes should pls give him a chance nd stop talkin abt loaning him out
Raj Jr Jr
Jan 14, 2014 at 3:02 am
Vidal plus pogba plus ander herrera plus munain and januzaj in midfield.
Rafael & Mangala& Garay&Baines in defence..
Rooney & Persie
Hellooo Moyes are u listening …
Thats wat I call dream team…
Raj Jr Jr
Jan 14, 2014 at 3:06 am
Rooney as lone striker with all the support from behind…
Sell Persie we dont need him.
Olayode Emmanuel Oladapo
Jan 14, 2014 at 5:42 am
Das our new CR7. Moyes shud also giv Zaha a playin tym instead of loain im out coz he also is a perfect winger 4 us
akash
Jan 14, 2014 at 6:53 am
Kagawa,januzaj mostly deserved number 7. Mostly Januzaj
Ability
Jan 14, 2014 at 11:05 am
I want 2 ask moyes all or anybody that new more about Zaha, what strong with him why is he not playing ?
Ayantunji Sodiq Dollar Mc
Jan 14, 2014 at 11:42 am
I tipped him(Januzaj) to make waves in Premier League with Manchester United nd become a legend there. 4 d vacant no7 shirt,he fits in bt nt yet time cos 2 much will be expected of him and that might make him loose form.
Nicholas Kataboy
Jan 14, 2014 at 12:30 pm
Januzaj plus kagawa…rooney +persie +carrick and fletcher,rafael and evra vidic an evans then De gea….Dats amust win agaist chelsea
adeleke abiodun
Jan 14, 2014 at 1:26 pm
Adnan januzaj is a new number 7 icon, he is a new cr7 and george best, I like to honour him with dat great legend shirt number 7 bcos he deserve and I believe he make him to be play more than what he play before………….AJ7
Maxwell ohene walcott
Jan 14, 2014 at 3:54 pm
Mois shld go for a good defender and mildfielder
Maxwell ohene walcott
Jan 14, 2014 at 4:02 pm
we dont need young anymore sell him
Don Namikasa -Bungoma Kenya
Jan 14, 2014 at 5:02 pm
And we’ve finally found Cristiano Ronaldo’s replacement in the form of Adnan Januzaj 44
Mulako Emma
Jan 14, 2014 at 5:17 pm
Moyes don’t hurriedly sell players without immediate replace.