Manchester United’s first team remains under scrutiny after a difficult start to the season, but the academy remains dominant, and one player is standing out.
Ruben Amorim has come under fire recently for his treatment of Kobbie Mainoo, with the United academy product the only one in the last squad against Burnley.
With no European games this season, the chances for youngsters will decrease further, especially if the need for results is dire at some point.
However, one player is shining in the academy ranks to such an extent that U21s manager Travis Binnion said the club haven’t even scraped the top of the iceberg with him.
Chido Obi of Manchester United in action during a first team training session as part of their pre-season tour of the USA at Endeavor Health Performance Center on August 02, 2025
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Travis Binnion praises Chido Obi
Unlike Mainoo, Chido Obi is not a United academy product, although he will end up being regarded as homegrown in two years’ time since he joined United at 16.
Obi was fast-tracked last season as he made a few appearances off the bench and even received a start in the league.
He scored for United on their post-season tour but has not managed to make the squad this season as Amorim reinforced his attacking options.
So meteoric has his rise been that it’s often forgotten he’s still only 17, and bossing the U21s level is a good marker of his talent.
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That’s exactly what he did against Man City U21s recently, scoring in United’s 2-1 win where Shea Lacey returned from injury.
After the game, manager Travis Binnion spoke to Manchester Evening News and raved about Obi’s potential.
He said: “Because he’s had exposure with the first-team, I think people expect performance levels that are really consistent and really high. You’ve got first-team players across the country who don’t do that.
“The expectation of him is high, but he has to deliver the basics. I’m really pleased with him, and we haven’t even scraped the top of the iceberg with him. He’s got loads to come.
“That will come from how he sees the game, keeps working hard, and recognises he has stuff to develop because that’s always a challenge when you have that first-team exposure and then you go away and have to start working on things.
“He is dying to be a footballer. The key is he wants to play, he wants to do well, and he wants to train. He could train every day if he could.”
Ruben Amorim is handling Obi perfectly
The clamour to see a new face in the first team can often lead to the downfall of young prospects who can suffer from having the expectations of “saviour” on their head.
That is what happened with Alejandro Garnacho, and that is what Amorim is trying to avoid with Kobbie Mainoo.
He’s handling Obi perfectly as well, because the noise around his potential was already at fever-pitch last season, only increased by his goals on the post-season tour.
As Binnion said, expecting him to contribute a goal every game for the senior team just because he’s been doing that in the academy is unfair.
Obi is getting precious developmental minutes and time away from the glare of the first team, which can often break the most experienced players, let alone developing youngsters.
Obi’s time will come, and he will be a regular member of the first team when he’s much more complete.