Dan Gore
Manchester United ace Dan Gore has sparked a fresh controversy
Dan Gore's rise through the ranks at Manchester United has been anything but dull.
The highly-rated midfielder, 20, is the club's latest academy product determined to break off the conveyor belt and into senior football, impressing with his tenacity, technical ability and relentless drive. His is a story defined by ambition, flashes of brilliance, and a fiery edge that has both turned heads and ruffled feathers.
From a heated training ground clash to a shocking red card that left fans stunned, Gore's passion is as evident as his potential. Currently on loan at Rotherham United, he's eager to make a statement amid whispers that a spot in Ruben Amorim's senior squad could be up for grabs - despite an "eyebrow-raising" incident that has complicated matters.
Here, Mirror Football delves into his journey so far, the controversies that have shaped him, and what the future may hold for one of United's most intriguing prospects. One thing's for sure - Dan Gore is never boring.
Who is Dan Gore?
Gore joined United's academy in 2018 after several years in Burnley's youth setup. He quickly rose through the ranks and was part of the club's 2022 FA Youth Cup-winning side alongside Alejandro Garnacho.
His standout performances earned him an invite from Ralf Rangnick to train with the first team, and he was later named United Reserve Team Player of the Year for the 2022/23 season. In September 2023, Gore made his senior debut in the EFL Cup against Crystal Palace, and three months later, he marked his Premier League bow against Aston Villa.
Dan Gore in action during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace
Gore has already made his senior debut for United ( Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
The following January, he was loaned to League One side Port Vale, but a quadricep injury limited him to just one appearance at Vale Park. After returning to United that summer, Gore suffered a dislocated shoulder, forcing him to spend another five months on the sidelines.
Once back to full fitness, he was loaned out to Rotherham. However, injury troubles have since hindered his progress.
Training ground bust-up
Anthony Martial, on the face of it, seems like a pretty placid fellow, but he was anything but when Gore clattered into him during a United training session in November 2022. Along with a handful of other academy players, Gore had been brought in to make up the numbers as a big chunk of the club's senior squad had jetted off to Qatar for the World Cup.
Despite being told that tackling first team stars was 'off limits' by staff, Gore lived up to his name by crunching Martial to the ground in over-exuberant fashion, leaving the Frenchman absolutely furious. Martial stood up and lashed out at the teenager, and the two reportedly had to be pulled apart to prevent a full-blown scrap.
Anthony Martial, Dan Gore and Omari Forson in Man Utd training in 2024
Anthony Martial and Gore had to be pulled apart in training
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Once tempers simmered, Martial apologised to Gore, who was more than happy to make peace. He was, however, pulled aside by manager Erik ten Hag, who told him to ease off the tackles or be sent back to the youth team pitches.
Shocking red card
He may have heeded Ten Hag's warning, but Gore was back in the headlines a few months later thanks to another rash tackle, this time in a pre-season game. The midfielder had joined up with the senior squad for their tour of the US in 2023, and was handed the captain's armband during their clash with Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham.
United, who fielded an XI almost exclusively with academy stars, were 2-0 down at half time, and things went from bad to worse just a couple of minutes after the restart when Gore was given a straight red card for a robust challenge on Wrexham's Andy Cannon. At first glance, it looked like a sensible decision, but replays showed that it was actually Cannon who'd caught Gore, with his studs raking the United youngster's shin.
He was sent off against Wrexham, though replays showed he didn't deserve to be (
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With no VAR available, the dismissal stood and the Red Devils went on to lose 3-1. On social media, baffled fans lambasted the call, with one describing it as "the most backwards bit of refereeing I've seen in years" on X.
Eyebrows raised
Determined to ensure and enhance Gore's development, United chiefs put plenty of time and effort into finding the right club to loan him to last month. He started brightly, coming off the bench and providing an assist on his Rotherham debut against Birmingham, but he hasn't been seen since.
This is because of another injury flare up, which left Rotherham manager Steve Evans unimpressed and unconvinced. "He [Gore] worked for two days in the team and went home from training on Friday feeling good," Evans told reporters when asked about the midfielder's absence.
"I got a call from the medical staff to say that he'd woken up with his foot really sore... It's unbelievable. We didn't do enough in training for him to have a sore nose let alone a sore foot. He sat there afterwards having lunch with the boys and had a rub and got prepared. Until I hear more from the medical staff as to how it's happened and why it's happened then it's… maybe God will tell me when I go to sleep tonight."
Rotherham boss Steve Evans wasn't impressed with Gore's latest injury
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Evans' comments have reportedly raised a few eyebrows back in Manchester. The last thing United will want is for Gore's relationship with his new manager to sour, and for him to spend a second successive loan spell on the sidelines.
A few days later, Evans appeared to backtrack as he confirmed that Gore was facing a few weeks on the shelf. "He is seeing a specialist. We think it's weeks. He was distraught... I'm talking about a boy who [just] wants to play football," the Millers' boss said.
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