The surprising player who would have got Cristiano Ronaldo’s Man Utd No7 shirt if Michael Owen hadn’t joined
MICHAEL OWEN was handed Cristiano Ronaldo's No7 shirt when he arrived at Old Trafford in 2009.
The Portuguese superstar's departure for Real Madrid had left the iconic jersey vacant.
And Owen's move from Newcastle saw Sir Alex Ferguson give him the No7.
Things did not work out for the England star at Old Trafford as he bagged just 17 goals during his three seasons at the club.
But Owen has now revealed midfielder Michael Carrick would have become United's No7 had he not joined.
Carrick ended up keeping his No16 for the 2009/10 campaign.
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Speaking to Rio Ferdinand on his , Owen said: "I didn't feel the pressure, I felt a responsibility.
"It has been a great number over the years and I remember Sir Alex pulling me and Carrick into the room and he said: 'I want you to wear the No7 but if you don't want it, you don't feel it, then Carrick would be next in line.'
"I said: 'No way, I am having it. If you are offering me that I am having it'.
"The problem is that Ronaldo had just vacated so it was still quite a heavy shirt so there was also going to be a drop off."
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Once Owen's time at Man Utd came to an end in 2012, Antonio Valencia took the shirt for the following campaign.
After that, a host of flops wore the jersey in Angel Di Maria, Memphis Depay and Alexis Sanchez.
Edinson Cavani was the final man to take the number before Ronaldo returned for a second time in 2021.
Following CR7's exit midway through last season, Mason Mount took the No7 in the summer.
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