Zidane Iqbal is looking forward to European nights at FC Utrecht, two years after being offloaded by Manchester United.
The competition for places at Manchester United is fierce, and academy players dream of becoming first-team regulars once they graduate from the youth teams.
Only some players make the grade, as seen in 2023 when Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo emerged as key players who helped United win the FA Cup final against Man City that year.
However, in recent transfer windows, United have shown more willingness to let academy products leave the club – but with buy-back and sell-on clauses included in those deals.
Scott McTominay’s transfer to Napoli in 2024 generated pure profit for United as he came directly from the academy. The same applied to Anthony Elanga when the Swede left Old Trafford for Nottingham Forest.
McTominay and Elanga are examples of players who have kicked on following their United exits. But they are not alone, and more players will follow in their footsteps if Ineos continue to offload young players for profit.
Zidane Iqbal playing against Feyenoord for FC Utrecht
Photo by Marcel van Dorst/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Zidane Iqbal excited to face Antony’s Real Betis
Another player who left United, after coming through the academy, is Zidane Iqbal.
The Manchester-born-and-bred midfielder moved to play first-team football for FC Utrecht in the Netherlands in 2023.
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Iqbal, who became the first British-born South Asian to play for United and in the Champions League, represents Iraq on the international stage.
After picking up a knee injury and requiring surgery, Iqbal has been out of competitive action since April. He is working hard to recover, including involvement in friendly games, but excitement is building over Utrecht’s Europa League campaign.
In an interview with RTV Utrecht, Iqbal expressed excitement at trips to clubs like Celtic and Real Betis in the Europa League. The trip to Spain will see Iqbal take on former United winger Antony.
“I’m really looking forward to the away matches against Real Betis and Celtic,” Iqbal said.
“Those are the games you dream of as a player. Of course, I hope to get some minutes. I’m waiting for my chance, and when it comes, I’ll take it.”
Utrecht finished fourth in the Eredivisie last season and qualified for the second round of the Europa League’s qualifying phase. They will now take on FC Porto, Real Betis, Lyon, Celtic, Nottingham Forest, Freiburg, KRC Genk and SK Brann in the league phase of Europe’s second-rate competition.
Unfortunately for Iqbal’s former club, United, there is no European football this season.
How is Iqbal finding life in the Netherlands?
Iqbal has experienced homesickness since leaving Manchester.
That was a learning curve for the young midfielder, who expressed eagerness at returning from injury during an interview with Andy Mitten this summer.
Speaking to The National, Iqbal opened up on how he is finding life in the Netherlands: “Good.
“At the start, in 2023, I was injured and homesick, but I’ve got over that period. Last season was a big learning curve. I’m injured now, but I hope to be back on the pitch soon and playing because I’ve got a taste of what it’s like to be starting week in, week out and being key for the team.
“I became a starter for Utrecht, a team who were third and fourth in the Eredivisie for most of the season – a good season for us. That happened after we lost 5-2 to PSV. I didn’t play in that one, but the gaffer [head coach Ron Jans] told me I was starting for the next match – away to Ajax. And from that game until I got injured in mid-April, I started.”