Cavani officially gets Man United’s ‘cursed’ shirt number
Edinson Cavani has officially been handed Manchester United’s ‘cursed’ number seven shirt that used to be the pride of Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham.
The Red Devils signed the striker on a free transfer on deadline day – he’d been without a club since leaving PSG when his contract expired in the summer.
He said: “Manchester United is one of the greatest clubs in the world, so it is a real honour to be here. I’ve worked really hard during the time off and I feel eager to compete and represent this incredible club.
“I have played in front of some of the most passionate supporters in football during my career and I know that it will be the same in Manchester.
“I cannot wait to experience the Old Trafford atmosphere, when it is safe for the fans to return.
📋 Just a few attributes @ECavaniOfficial will bring to M16, according to the boss 💪#MUFC pic.twitter.com/Lx5Cv7vIh0
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 6, 2020
“I look forward to continuing to write my little story inside the book of football and I know that’s why my focus has to remain the same as always – work, work, work. I have had a conversation with the manager and this has increased my desire to wear this beautiful shirt.”
On the day after his deal was confirmed, Cavani‘s shirt number was announced.
The number seven used to be a source of pride at Old Trafford – worn by icons such as George Best, David Beckham, Eric Cantona and Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, since Ronaldo left things have not been the same, with some fans even claiming the shirt is ‘cursed’.
Cavani is the sixth player to wear the number since CR7’s exit after Michael Owen, Antonio Valencia, Angel Di Maria, Memphis Depay and Alexis Sanchez.
The combined record of Man United’s number sevens since Ronaldo’s exit makes for miserable reading.
They’ve scored just 14 league goals between them in the decade since he left.
👕 7️⃣@ECavaniOfficial will become the latest Red to don our number seven shirt 🔴#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 6, 2020
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Cavani will be hoping to vastly improve on this tally after signing a two-year contract to earn around £175,000-a-week at Old Trafford.
The 33-year-old has 341 club goals since arriving in Europe at Palermo in 2007. Napoli and PSG saw most of his successes.