Romantic, iconic, historic - Manchester United and the number seven shirt conjures up images of players past performing perfection.
From George Best and Eric Cantona to David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo. It's been pulled on by some of the game's greats and Mason Mount becomes the latest entrusted with the responsibility.
Mount has completed his £55million move from Chelsea and taken the number seven shirt vacant since Ronaldo's second departure. It's the Portugal great that will be hoping to emulate.
Ronaldo was something of an idol for Mount, despite him growing up on the south coast and coming through the ranks during a star-studded Chelsea era.
Want to join our MUFC Pro club for a totally ad-free version of the MEN’s Man United app packed with premium features? Click here
ALSO READ: Why Manchester United have made Mason Mount their new No.7
Mount was in the crowd in January 2008 when Ronaldo, at the peak of his United powers, thundered in a vicious, dipping, swerving free kick that stunned Old Trafford into silence such was the technique and talent required to produce it. Mount was only nine but was already a budding talent.
He was inspired by Ronaldo and returned home to practice. There's a video of him, sporting a hair cut of the ages, practicing in the Chelsea academy as a kid: "I try to base my free-kicks on Ronaldo," he says. "Hit the ball by the valve and it moves. That's all you do. Top corner, top bins." The ball flew into the top corner.
He now has the chance to replicate a boyhood dream on the stage Ronaldo graced for so long. Mount's work ethic, ball retention, versatility and ability are just some of the reasons United have shelled out such a big fee. Ronaldo made the number his own, particularly during his first spell at the club, and Mount was taking note.
"I think everyone has seen the video of when I was younger basing my free kick off him," he told Amazon Prime. "I always watched him very closely when he was at United as a young kid. I loved the way he played, his free kicks.
"I'm a massive Pompey fan, so I went to the game when they played at Old Trafford and he scored that free-kick against David James. I was actually at the game, in the corner so I saw it first hand and I think after that I kind of fell in love with the technique and what he'd done and him as a player."
Mount now follows in his idol's footsteps. If he can create anything like the legacy of some of his predecessors he'll be in seventh heaven.
