Manchester United’s transfer window activity has taken some shine away from the brilliant work done in the academy, and the club are extremely excited about one wonderkid in particular.
Despite the senior team going through its worst phase in the Premier League era, Man Utd’s academy sides have been a dominant outfit.
Since lifting three trophies in the 2023/24 season, the following batches of youngsters have taken on that mantle, as new potential superstars have taken centre-stage.
This season is one of transition again under new U18s head coach Darren Fletcher, and U21s head coach Travis Binnion has said one wonderkid who is a ‘warrior’ will cause people problems.
Manchester United's Amir Ibragimov and Middlesbrough's Isaac Greenup compete for possession
Photo by Anthony Devlin/Manchester United via Getty Images
Travis Binnion raves about Amir Ibragimov
With Nick Cox leaving the academy and a new head coach at the U18s level, this is a season where the stage is set for a new batch of youngsters to make themselves stand out.
Amir Ibragimov is not an unknown quantity at the club by any means, but this season, he has really taken his game to the next level.
Ibragimov reinvented himself as a deeper midfielder despite playing as a winger or a No. 10 in his career so far, and it’s a change that he has shone in.
His dominating performances for the U18s saw him rewarded with a place in the U21s squad recently, where he continued his red-hot form.
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Ibragimov scored the winner in Man Utd U21s’ 2-1 win against Man City, a game in which Shea Lacey returned from injury and Bendito Mantato stood out.
Speaking to Manchester Evening News after the game, Binnion raved about Ibragimov, saying his warrior-like mentality, combined with intelligence, should see him develop well.
He said: “He’s had a slight positional change, but he’s got all the tools to do it really well. He’s intelligent. He’s got stuff to tidy up, but he’s a warrior. If you’re intelligent and a warrior and want to do everything right with and without the ball, then you’re going to cause people problems.
“He played 90 minutes yesterday and come on today. Once he was in the squad, it was always in my mind to get him on the pitch. Amir is still an attacking player, he’s learning the deeper role.”
Ibragimov’s new position opens door for first-team breakout
Now that United have ended their transfer window without signing another midfielder, Ibragimov’s reinvention into a deeper midfielder couldn’t have come at a better time.
Just like Mantato, whose versatility increases his chances of a breakout, Ibragimov is now impressing in the exact role the senior team is lacking the most.
It doesn’t mean that he’s the saviour of United’s midfield by any stretch of the imagination, but his competition in the senior team has just changed massively.
From trying to get a game ahead of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and more, he’s now fighting with Manuel Ugarte or Casemiro for a spot next to Bruno Fernandes.
That is still quite a way in the future for now, because Ibragimov will have to prove that the current run of form isn’t just a purple patch.
If he continues to dominate the way he has so far in a deeper role, then he will make himself undeniable for Ruben Amorim, who is already under pressure to use the academy more.