Being awarded the iconic Manchester United shirt will be a huge show of faith in the attacker.
Shirt numbers shouldn’t mean a lot, but they do. For a striker, taking a number nine shirt means a lot of pressure.
Often managers show reservation about handing the shirt to youngsters for fear of causing hindrance to their progress, while others thrive on the confidence-nod.
Manchester United’s number 7 shirt is the club’s most iconic.
Worn by Best, Cantona, Beckham, and Ronaldo, amongst others, it has something of a magical quality at Old Trafford, often handed to a player from which the fans expect something special.
Michael Owen wore the shirt last, and failed to live up to the reputations of those who wore it before him, and has now been released.
Surely the arrival of Kagawa, a £12 million signing from Borussia Dortmund, brings a player with the perfect qualities to be United’s next number 7.
He scores goals, creates them, and has the ability to do the unexpected. If he lives up to his billing he will be an ideal candidate to wear it.
United say the deal isn’t just about shirt sales, but imagine how many Kagawa 7 kits they will sell out in Japan, and around the world.
Only if United feel he is not ready for the added pressure they would not give him the shirt, which is unlikely as if they had reservations they would not sign him.
Unless, there is an extra signing to come in who could excite fans even more than the Japanese maestro.
If Eden Hazard arrived, he surely would have wanted the shirt, but as he is off to Chelsea instead, it seems unlikely United will sign another playmaker when their requirements are in central midfield, full-back, and up-front.
Alternatives for Kagawa could include 9, with Berbatov expected to be off, while Solskjaer’s famous number 20 shirt could become available if Fabio is indeed loaned out for the season.
If Ferguson is not so sure, he could give Ashley Young the 7 shirt and Kagawa Young’s 18 – or likewise with Nani’s 17.
However 7 seems the perfect fit for Shinji Kagawa, and unless Sir Alex Ferguson has another ace up his sleeve, expect to see the exciting star wearing it next season.
image: © Schwenke
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