Alejandro Garnacho has already made himself a firm favourite among Reds over the past year or so and is undoubtedly one of the club’s most treasured young talents — so much so that many Reds believe he’s first in line for a coveted new shirt number.
The Argentine winger wore the 75 on his Man United debut in April 2022 but has been wearing the 49 shirt ever since, and while numbers do very little to define a player’s position or quality these days, it’s still a big part of football culture that feels special and significant to many fans and players alike.
Undoubtedly, the most iconic shirt in the club’s history is the hallowed number seven, which has belonged to the greatest players to ever grace the game, let alone the pitch at Old Trafford: Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and, most recently, Cristiano Ronaldo for a second time.
With that being said, the seven shirt isn’t just given to anyone and following a brilliant season marked with some big goals, assists and performances from the youngster, some supporters now feel he is not only primed to take up the responsibility but has even dropped a hint that his name’s already on it.
There’s a lot to take in here but you’re supposed to be looking at the number.
Sharing this admittedly bizarre image from his 19th birthday that poses more questions than it answers to his Instagram story, not only does Garnacho appear to have hired two dwarves dressed as Messi and Ronaldo to present him with his birthday cake, but it also has the number seven on it.
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While many have understandably been scratching their heads as to why this is why the teenager chose to celebrate his birthday — with many labelling it “tacky”, “strange”, “bizarre”, and even labelling him a “wrong’un” — others are simply obsessing over the choice of seven, specifically.
Now, while this could mean very little (it is, after all, the same number he uses on all his socials), he would clearly jump at the chance to take the number, having celebrated his as many million followers on Instagram with a very suggestive post.
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Moreover, other eagle-eyed fans have also spotted that his current shirt number is no longer available to buy on United’s online store purchasing the new home kit — but, again, this could be ahead of him being upgraded to another vacant number after becoming a more regular first-team player.
Garnacho’s current kit number is unavailable to buy. This looks like he’s getting the 7 👀 pic.twitter.com/wk7R9KLdLO
For a long time, some supporters felt the seven shirt had been ‘cursed’ ever since Ronaldo left for the first time back in 2009 (I mean, it didn’t go entirely smoothly when he took it back either), but many now believe they that Garnacho is not only hinting it might by his new number but that he’s ready for it.
Prior to CR7’s return, it was widely assumed that Jadon Sancho would be next to take up the shirt having worn the same number for Borussia Dortmund, but the promising Englishman was made to wait and is still yet to find any real rhythm at United.
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One thing is for sure, whoever does earn the shirt will have to rise to the occasion as history tells us you either have to have the personality and confidence to take on the challenge or they can quite quickly sink under the weight of it.
Whether Erik ten Hag thinks Alejandro Garnacho’s ambition and performances thus far warrant him becoming United’s new number seven remains to be seen.
Featured Image — Alejandro Garnacho (via Instagram)
Sport
Luxury Manchester gym Blok confirms permanent closure after weeks of uncertainty
Daisy Jackson
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure, weeks after the doors to the premium fitness facility mysteriously closed.
Around a fortnight ago, members began to arrive to their classes to find the gym on Ducie Street locked up and a forfeiture notice on the door – but at the time, Blok said that it was fighting to reopen.
Sadly, in an email sent to members today, its founder has confirmed that the studio is now permanently closed.
Blok – which has several very successful sites down in London – said that its relationship with its landlord has ‘broken down to a point where trust has been lost’.
The gym wrote that it’s been left with ‘no workable way forward’.
They said: “BLOK Manchester was a space built by our loyal and dedicated community. Whether you joined us for one class or one hundred, we are deeply grateful. You helped create something genuinely special in an incredible city.”
In the immediate future, they said they’ll be supporting the team of fantastic trainers who worked here, as well as looking after members.
Members will be contacted within a few hours with options and refunds owed.
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure. Credit: The Manc Group
CEO and founder Ed Stanbury said: “While this marks the end of a chapter, we don’t see it as the end of our story in Manchester. We’re already speaking with developers about potential future sites and remain committed to returning to the city when the time is right.
“Thank you for being part of our story so far. Let’s shape the future of wellness. The mission continues.”
Commenting on Blok’s Instagram post – its first in almost a fortnight – people have been sharing their sadness at the closure of its Manchester site.
One person wrote: “beautiful space, beautiful staff and beautiful community.”
Another said: “Sending love to all the instructors !! :(((( gutted”
Someone else commented: “THE BEST CLASSES. I’m gutted.”
Manchester City plotting spending spree ‘before’ Club World Cup
Danny Jones
Manchester City are set to embark on somewhat of a spending spree this summer transfer window as the club’s higher-ups are looking to get business done before the 2025 Club World Cup.
With FIFA’s intercontinental club competition set to get underway in mid-June, the Blues don’t have too long to welcome in new players, but Man City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has reiterated their urgency regarding recruitment.
Despite having brought in four new acquisitions in a very short space of time last season, the 50-year-old argued that he wasn’t completely happy with the extent and speed of their business.
Giving a lengthy interview this week, CFG‘s founding chairman has imposed an internal deadline ahead of the lucrative knockout competition.
Speaking with club media, Khaldoon recognised that while there were incomings in January of this year, he believes they “should have been more aggressive in some of the changes we needed to do, adding that he believes it “cost [them].”
“I can tell you today, we have clearly identified who exactly [the targets are], in what positions, and we have our clear number one option, our clear number two option”, he continues.
More importantly, he goes on to add: “We’ll go about our business, and it will be very clear, very swift. Our objective is to try to be ready with the new squad for the Club World Cup.”
He also suggested the flurry of activity this past January was not just atypical of the administration, but felt the squad fell into a crisis state with the number of injuries, insisting they “had to act.”
City have already been linked with a hugely talented and highly-rated European target in the wake of Kevin De Bruyne‘s departure and a lack of strength in depth in midfield.
An initial bid is said to have been received already and will likely be the first of many City summer signings.
He also insisted that the players who joined last season weren’t scattershot, emergency transfers (perhaps barring the resigning of İlkay Gündoğan) but were the start of the rebuild and “gives [fans] an idea of what’s coming this summer.”
Another player linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium is Lyon star Rayan Cherki, who scored in big moments during their Europa League run this year, registering 32 goal contributions across all competitions throughout the 24/25 campaign.
Who would you like to see added to Pep Guardiola’s side this summer, then, Man City fans?
You can watch Khaldoon Al Mubarak’s interview in full down below:
Danny Jones -
4th July 2023 
