Manchester United’s new investors Ineos aim to bring a bright future to the Red Devils, and there is added reason for encouragement.
Investment in youth talent has been key to Manchester United’s success, and can also bring in added revenue too.
In 2019 and 2020 United went on a blitz recruiting top talent from across Europe, signing Alejandro Garnacho, Alvaro Fernandez, Hannibal Mejbri, Marc Jurado, Willy Kambwala and many others.
Garnacho has become a first team star and an Argentina international worth millions, single-handedly making the strategy a success. Alvaro and Hannibal have just been loaned and could bring in high fees, while Kambwala has recently made his first team debut.
READ MORE: Manchester United transfer history 2013 to present day
Brexit rules blocked United foreign drive
On January 1, 2021, new rules came into effect due to Brexit, meaning English clubs cannot sign non-UK players under 18.
This would have meant deals at an early age for the likes of Garnacho would have been impossible. The club timed that one right, but how many others since have we missed out on?
One instance is Lucas Bergvall, who has been on trial at Carrington, and is now being linked strongly to Barcelona, per Fabrizio Romano.
United had used this strategy for years, it was how Gerard Pique, Giuseppe Rossi and Federico Macheda all came to the club.
Ineos own two foreign clubs
All of this is setting the scene for the new opportunity the investment from Ineos has brought to Manchester United.
Ineos own French side Nice and Swiss club Lausanne, who are both permitted to sign non-UK players under-18.
They can recruit them, develop them, and then sell onto Manchester United at a later date, having already gained first team football.
This is a model Chelsea have adopted with Strasbourg, and Manchester City have with Girona and other various partner clubs.
United are predictably behind the times with this, despite once having a feeder club at Royal Antwerp in the mid-2000s.
Now Ineos are long modernising the club, and the first such deal might just have taken place.
Lausanne sign Italian wonderkid Simone Pafundi
According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Swiss side Lausanne have struck a deal to sign Udinese talent Simone Pafundi.
Pafundi has signed on loan with Lausanne, crucially with a right to buy at the end of this current season at around £8 million.
This is a fee which would be Lausanne’s record signing, at a time when Ineos have just purchased a stake in Manchester United. Very intriguing.
Pafundi, 17, is remarkably already a senior Italy international, called up to feature in a friendly against Albania, when he became the country’s youngest debutant in 100 years.
He has been capped for the under-19s, where he struck four goals in six games and under-20s and has also made his first team debut for Udinese. He has 11 first team appearances for his club with 10 in Serie A.
Pafundi is a serious talent, capable of playing anywhere in attack, he can operate behind the striker or as a winger.
His move to Lausanne is a curious one, and it certainly looks like he might simply be stopping off there before a later switch to Old Trafford.
Explaining why he has moved to Switzerland, Di Marzio writes: “Simone Pafundi thus moves to a club that can give him a wide opportunity and visibility at an international level.”
This kind of forward thinking move could pave for a bright future at Manchester United.
At a time where United may also be restricted in the market by FFP compliance, Lausanne or Nice snapping up young talent at least can keep the Red Devils in the mix, when it comes to their futures, and is a fascinating development.
Whether Pafundi ends up at United or not, expect to see this strategy taken forward under Ineos in the years ahead, and just like the club struck gold with Garnacho, another future diamond won’t be far away.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/QhImU2Y