Manchester United signed a brand new quantity 7, with midfielder Mason Mount making the transfer from Chelsea in a £64million transfer. Mount, a Champions League winner with the Blues, inherits the well-known 7 blouse from Cristiano Ronaldo, and turns into the newest in an extended line of iconic gamers to put on that quantity.
Mount got here during the Chelsea academy, however shared his admiration of Ronaldo’s method, particularly in relation to free-kicks. Speaking to Man United’s in-house media group after his signing was once showed, Mount spoke about how he took inspiration from the Portuguese legend.
In specific, Mount recalled Ronaldo’s well-known thunderbolt towards Portsmouth. Mount was once born in Portsmouth, and grew up supporting the group, and was once due to this fact provide within the stands when Ronaldo struck that superb free-kick in 2008.
“I was probably around 10. I was there in the away end, supporting my team Pompey, and was able to witness that special moment,” recalled Mount. The freekick is without doubt one of the maximum iconic objectives of Ronaldo’s profession, hit with implausible energy and precision, proper into the highest nook. It was once additionally an instance of his knuckleball method, which provides an unpredictable trajectory to a shot that strikes at nice speeds as neatly.
There is a well-known clip of a tender Mason Mount demonstrating the method for one of these kick, whilst on the Chelsea academy, which went viral in 2019 when Mount made his debut for Chelsea. “I think that video of me taking the free-kick in training was after that day,” mentioned Mount.
In that well-known video, Mount had mentioned “I attempt to base my free-kicks on Ronaldo: hit the ball by means of the valve and it strikes. That’s all you do. To set up most sensible nook. Top packing containers.
“It impressed me. And seeing that particular second at Old Trafford, I used to be within the away finish. As I mentioned, I used to be in awe of that state of affairs and that iconic second. So, I’d like to now mirror it,” concluded the Red Devils’ new signing.
Ronaldo was the number 7 with distinction for Man United, winning his first Ballon d’Or in that 2008 season. However, Mount’s Portsmouth would get some measure of revenge over the Portuguese for that iconic goal. The south coast team beat United in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup, before going on to lift the iconic trophy.
They also denied Ronaldo and United a treble, as the Manchester team would go on to win the Premier League as well as the Champions League, ironically beating Chelsea in the final.
Nevertheless, there is pressure on Mount to return the 7 shirt to the heights it has seen in the past. The lineage of the 7 shirt has gone from George Best to Bobby Robson, to Eric Cantona, David Beckham, and then finally Ronaldo, has been one of excellence. United haven’t won a league title in a decade, and Mount could add his name alongside his idol and other United greats by helping them to silverware.