Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Former Manchester United prospect Devonte Redmond has picked out the colleague he was stunned never made it at Old Trafford.
Devonte Redmond was part of Manchester United’s under-18s set up back in the 2010s, before his release in 2018.
The former winger played in the same youth team as Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay, who players who went on to establish themselves at United and beyond, also representing their countries.
Despite this, Redmond believes that Callum Gribbin was the standout player in his age group.
Manchester United v Hull City: FA Youth Cup
Photo by John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images
Callum Gribbin was destined to be a star
Calum Gribbin caught attention with his performances for Manchester United’s youth teams during Louis van Gaal’s stint as manager.
Also an England youth international, Gribbin was an attacking midfielder with a deadly free-kick.
Speaking to More Than A Match, Devonte Redmond says that Gribbin was the player he expected to become a star, and likens his playing style to Chelsea’s Cole Palmer.
Redmond explained: “The things that he used to do were just frightening, like way ahead of his years, and he almost used to just play in second gear. I don’t think I ever seen him break into a sprint, but he didn’t have to.
“I think when we started trying to introduce him, be more physical it sort of took a bit of certain things away from his game.
“He was like Cole Palmer, before Cole Palmer.
“The ability, the technique, and the composure, and just everything. Gribbin was the one where I thought ‘there’s only one place he’s going, the United first team’.”
What happened to Gribbin and Redmond?
Devonte Redmond was released by Manchester United in 2018 after a loan at Scunthorpe United. He had spent 13 years in the academy. He went on to play for Salford City, Wrexham, and also had a stint playing in Dubai.
Gribbin was released by United in 2019, having also been unable crack the United first team, despite his ability.
He later signed with Sheffield United, and suffered a serious injury while playing for FC United of Manchester. He most recently played for Warrington Rylands.