The signing of Chido Obi was in so much fanfare that another exciting talent signed by Man Utd in the summer of 2024, Samuel Lusale, went under the radar, but not anymore.
No two breakouts are the same, so Samuel Lusale waits for a senior debut while Chido Obi broke through last season, but he’s turning heads now.
Lusale was signed from Crystal Palace’s academy in September 2024 and has played mainly with the U18s setup since signing.
After getting to grips with Carrington last summer, he has exploded this season and he could be the team’s talisman in the FA Youth Cup this year.
Samuel Lusale controls high pass for Manchester United U18s.
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Who is Samuel Lusale?
Lusale is an 18-year-old attacker who plays on the right for Man Utd U18s after signing from Crystal Palace in 2024.
He came through the ranks with the London club, but United poached him after he caught their eye, signing him alongside Chido Obi.
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Amir Ibragimov leads team talk for Manchester United U18s.
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Lusale is a more traditional winger who likes to get to the byline instead of cutting inside, and his pace and dribbling make him a nightmare for defenders.
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He has taken a leap this season by adding end product to his dribbles, and at the time of writing, he sits at two goals and four assists in the league in just 10 games.
The breakout has impressed his teammates, with Shea Lacey calling him “Mbappe” in the comment section of one of his Instagram posts.
Lusale’s path at Man Utd
Due to his struggles with acclimatising at Old Trafford, Lusale’s first season was basically an exercise in recognising his raw potential and nurturing it.
He has started to make good on those glimpses now that he has become more comfortable at the club, and the same is showing in his game.
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Ruben Amorim in Manchester United attire during loss to Everton.
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He’s an ever-present member of Darren Fletcher’s free-scoring young Red Devils, who are second in the league table, just four points behind Man City.
With his pace and trickery at a good level already, he just needs to bulk up and add some physicality to his game to take it to the next level.
His immediate first-team prospects look a bit slim, considering not even Shea Lacey can get a game right now, but a jump to U21s football should be his aim.
From there, a potential pre-season with the senior team next year can open the doors for him because he’s the kind of player who gets the fans off their seats with his dribbling.
For now, the FA Youth Cup will be his main priority, because it has a history of creating stars at United.
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