Ruben Amorim has clarified speculation on why former Arsenal academy striker Chido Obi has been excluded from Manchester United’s Europa League squad.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 02: Chido Obi-Martin of Manchester United during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford on March 02, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Former Arsenal academy striker Chido Obi has found himself in Manchester United’s first-team squad in recent weeks, coming off the bench in a couple of Premier League games and the weekend’s FA Cup defeat to Fulham.
Yet Obi hasn’t travelled to Spain for Thursday’s game away to Real Sociedad, as he’s ineligible to play in the competition.
Manchester United had the chance to add three players to their squad in January, but they only included two, leaving Obi out.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 02: Chido Obi-Martin of Manchester United shoots on goal whilst under pressure from Bernd Leno of Fulham during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford on March 02, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Ruben Amorim has explained why, suggesting the picture is very different now to how it was in early February at the time of the squad registration deadline.
“It’s a different context in that moment,” Amorim said. “Rasmus [Hojlund] and Josh [Zirkzee] were playing in the same position, so we try to manage all the things, even the expectations of the kids.
“So it was that. The context was completely different and we choose different players.”
manchester united v coventry city the fa youth cup third round 1
Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images
The decision makes sense in context. At the time, United had Hojlund rotating with Zirkzee, and no need to include Obi in the squad. They’ve since altered their lineup to include both players, hence the need for Obi to step up to the bench, but that only happened after the UEFA squad deadline.
For those wondering why United didn’t include Obi anyway, just in case, the problem was that they would have had to remove a player to do so.
With Obi ineligible for United’s List B (having been at the club for less than two years), he had to be registered as a senior player. But United were already at their maximum of 25 senior players, they couldn’t add him without taking someone else out.
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 18: Chido Obi of Manchester United celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal during The FA Youth Cup Third round match between Manchester United and Coventry City at Leigh Sports Village on December 18, 2024 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images
In hindsight, United should have removed someone like 17-year-old Jack Fletcher, who hasn’t played a single minute for the United first team this season. Like Obi, Fletcher had to be named as a senior player as he’s not been at the club for two years yet.
But United clearly had no more intention to use Obi than Fletcher back at the start of February. The situation changed, and they’ve been left red faced.
Obi has no choice but to stay at home this midweek and train for United’s game against Arsenal on Sunday. It would be typical if that fixture brings his first goal for his new club.
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