Manchester United

David Beckham: 'No.7 shirt should inspire Memphis Depay'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 18 November 2015

Former Manchester United midfielder David Beckham believes that Memphis Depay should be inspired, rather than intimidated, by the No.7 shirt.

Former Manchester United midfielder David Beckham has said that it is an "honour" to be handed the No.7 shirt for the club.

The likes of George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona and Cristiano Ronaldo have worn the famous shirt down the years, but the incumbent holder Memphis Depay has struggled for form since his summer move to Old Trafford.

However, Beckham, himself a high-profile former occupant of the shirt, does not believe that following in the footsteps of such an illustrious list should carry any extra pressure for a player.

"I don't see it as an intimidation, I see it as an honour. When you get given the No.7 shirt it doesn't matter who has worn it in the past or what that player has achieved in the past," Beckham is quoted as saying by The Guardian.

"At the end of the day it is a special shirt to wear but I don't think personally that it comes with any pressure. It always was an inspiration for me. It was never my shirt. It was George Best's, Bryan Robson's, Eric Cantona's.

"The only reason I wanted to wear the number seven shirt was because of these players. The No.7 shirt is a special shirt for Man United. It always has been and it always will be."

Depay has featured in just eight of United's 12 Premier League games this season, scoring one goal.