As often is the case at various clubs, the number seven jersey is venerated and holds a special place in the eyes and hearts of a club and its fans akin.
At Manchester United, the players that assumed that jerseys were referred to as football icons; George Best, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo – all were playing a pivotal role in making the shirt even more iconic.
After the snapping up of Michael Owen on a free, Sir Alex Ferguson shocked everyone by presenting the 2001 Ballon D’Or winner the coveted jersey – although Owen failed to live to the mammoth expectations commanded by the odd number.
Antonio Valencia then took up the jersey, but he too did not do the coveted shirt any justice, with a disappointing 2012/13 season to show for it. After one season in it, he abandoned it and reverted back to number
25.
And now, reports from La Tercera newspaper suggest that much sought after midfield dynamo, Arturo Vidal has asked to join United, going further to state that the Chilean had already had a preliminary medical at the club.
Any guesses as to which jersey is preparing to accommodate the name of the sacrosanct midfielder? Yes – jersey number 7.
According to reports, Vidal is set to take up number 7, previously occupied by danger men Best, Beckham and Ronaldo, as Louis Van Gaal seeks to tie up the deal as soon as possible. Vidal to United has been a transfer embargo tantamount to that of Fabregas to Barcelona and more recently, Bale to Madrid; unending and emotionally draining.
The potential capture of Vidal definitely fulfil the wishes of millions of fans – all 659 of them – in landing a marquee signing, the most dominant box-to-box dynamo in the game.
It would certainly boost the morale of the squad that often looked bemused in games, culminating the season in seventh place in the league with David Moyes’ Charity Shield his only trophy to show for his efforts.
The Red Devils have already invested in new recruits this summer, brining youngling Luke Shaw from Southampton as well as snapping up Ander Herrera from Athletic Bilbao.
Vidal’s arrival alongside Herrera in the midfield will definitely add much-needed stability to a United side too often outrun and undone last season, thus allowing the attack to flourish with impetus, as they have shown in pre-season thus far, scoring 13 goals in four games.
In his four games in charge, Van Gaal has deployed Tom Cleverley, Shinji Kagawa and Darren Fletcher in midfield, with the gamble just paying off, but he will know too well he cannot game over an entire season.
The transfer activity doesn’t end with Vidal – actually, it shouldn’t.
United are yet to compensate for the loss of accolade-wealthy trio of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.
Van Gaal has sounded out Thomas Vermaelen, Joao Miranda, Matt Hummels as able replacements to instil experience and steel to a defence that has undergone a serious cosmetic surgery.
