Kai Rooney made his Man Utd U18s debut at just 15, and JJ Gabriel, a year younger, continued to defy expectations, but it was another electric wonderkid who is becoming undeniable for Ruben Amorim.
Man Utd U18s 1-0 win against Everton to kick off their PL U18s season did not reflect how dominant Darren Fletcher’s young Reds were.
From the off, the youngsters were fearless, looked to get on the ball and regularly ran the Everton players ragged, who started to become frustrated.
In a game that was full of attacking quality, lacking the finishing touch, one player who has reinvented himself this season stood out in the best way possible.
Reading U21 v Manchester United U21: Premier League 2
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Amir Ibragimov looks like a man on a mission
Manchester United’s academy has an embarrassment of attacking riches right now, but Amir Ibragimov has started this season like a man on a mission.
Ibragimov has always been a highly-rated talent in the academy, but up until last season, he was mainly played as an attacking midfielder or on the wings.
His slight frame compared to his peers always had him a step behind, even though his skills on the ball were second to none.
This season, however, Ibragimov reinvented himself into an all-action central midfielder and, against Everton U18s, showed that he’s a man on a mission.
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Ibragimov scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win after JJ Gabriel won a penalty, but it was his overall game that caught the eye.
He ran with the ball with utmost fearlessness, beating players off the dribble and laying off passes to his teammates like he had eyes in the back of his head.
As the captain of the team, he was regularly seen cajoling his teammates into the perfect position, and on more than one occasion, his booming calls could be heard through the camera.
Perhaps the biggest improvement was seen in his game off the ball as he regularly slid into tackles and won duels on the ground like a player possessed.
That is what will bring him closer to the first team because Ruben Amorim has demanded athleticism from central midfield.
Against Everton, Ibragimov continued to prove that he could be that player in the middle of the park, at least in the long term, if not immediately.
Amorim might have to look in-house for a solution
Ibragimov’s reinvention into a box-to-box midfielder, combined with his blazing start to the season, couldn’t have come at a better time.
United’s chase for Carlos Baleba has ended, and with the club having one eye on his transfer next summer, plus spending £200m already on three players, the club might take a brave call.
That call is opting against signing a new midfielder this summer, which opens the door for someone like Ibragimov to break into the first team.
Amorim has shown with the debuts he has handed so far that he values mentality and personality over skill in youngsters.
By completely reinventing his game and looking at home in a new role, with increased responsibilities of being a captain, Ibragimov has given multiple demonstrations of his mentality and personality.
Now, it is up to him to keep this standard of performance because he’s right on his way to becoming undeniable for Ruben Amorim if he does.