The youth acacdemy at Manchester United might well be the greatest in football history. Having produced all-stars such as Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Marcus Rashford, who are the best players currently within their system?
For the purposes of this list, we’ll only be looking at players under the age of 20. Anyone over that threshold will not be considered.
Previously, we have taken a look at the five best youngsters in the youth academies of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City – today, it’s the Red Devils’ turn.
Pharell Silvester
At just 15 years of age, Pharell Silvester hasn’t even completed his GCSEs yet. He’s very, very young, but shows an impressive maturity from the number ten role.
An excellent passer of the ball with an impressive range of vision, he can also carry it between the lines and score goals from all sorts of positions.
For such a fledgling, he is an intelligent footballer who also possesses excellent movement on the ball. Definitely one to watch out for.
Amir Ibragimov
Dagestan might be more closely associated with MMA than it is football, but Amir Ibragimov is certainly putting its name on the map in this particular circle.
A canny attacking player who can give defenders the slip at the drop of a hat, his technique and movement are both utterly excellent for an 18-year-old.
He is very adaptable, too. He generally plays as a left winger, cutting inside on his right foot, but he can also play as a right winger or as an attacking midfielder.
Douka Nkoto
Another 15-year-old, Douka Nkoto is obviously not the finished product yet, but has still shown plenty of promise for United’s youth ranks.
A fast, powerful winger with excellent balance and ball control, Nkoto can play on either wing or as an attacking midfielder. Due to his physical attributes, he can also function as a central midfielder.
Furthermore, his decision-making is also very strong. This is a rare attribute to have for someone so young – it is also a sign that he’ll be a big success in the future.
Chido Obi
Chido Obi is an odd case. A couple of years ago, he was touted as the next big thing – now, his star seems to have faded a little bit. Don’t get us wrong, though – he is still a phenomenal talent with bags of potential.
Last season, he was expected to burst into the United senior team and make a serious impact. While he made a few appearances, this didn’t happen.
We’d advise United fans to exercise patience with him. The ability is clearly there, he just needs time. It is easy to forget he’s still only 18. Last month, he was in talks to join FC Koln on a season-long loan [va GIVEMESPORT].
JJ Gabriel
The big one. JJ Gabriel is amongst the strongest young talents in the Premier League, if not the world as things stand. A goalscoring phenomenon, he is the future of Manchester United.
His record in front of goal is exceptional. Last season, in the U18s Premier League, Gabriel scored 23 goals in 23 games, as well as racking up a trio of assists.
On top of this, he is just 15 years old. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him break the record for the youngest senior United player ever, currently held by David Gaskell. This record has stood since 1956, but Gabriel still has a few months to shatter it. Will Michael Carrick give him the opportunity?