Beckham: No.7 shirt should not be a burden for Depay

David Beckham believes the Manchester United No.7 shirt should inspire Memphis Depay rather than intimidate him.

Some of the best players in the history of club have worn the number, including Eric Cantona, George Best, Cristiano Ronaldo and Beckham himself.

But the former England captain insists he never felt any pressure attached to the shirt despite its illustrious past.


"I don’t see it as an intimidation, I see it as an honour," Beckham said.

"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.

"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 No.7 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."