Manchester United have had some special talents break through the academy over the past couple of years.
Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo headline the list of recent academy graduates.
Reaching back further Marcus Rashford is the next obvious example, along with Scott McTominay who is becoming one of Serie A’s best.
Historically, the academy has also handed the Red Devils great success with the Class of 92′ and the Busby Babes all part of the storied club history.
However, there have been instances of the club letting go of youngsters who go on to become elite. Now a former coach of United has admitted the club may have let the next David Beckham slip through its fingers.
Dean Whitehouse says Manchester United should never have sold Anthony Elanga
Losing academy talents is part and parcel of having a top academy, as it means enough are being produced where we can afford to sell some, but the former coach at Carrington – Dean Whitehouse – has suggested one sale was a mistake.
Whitehouse was an academy coach for Manchester United between 2000 and 2023.
During this time he no doubt encountered some elite players and now in a LinkedIn post, he has criticised the club for letting Anthony Elanga depart.
“Nottingham Forest fans witnessed a thrilling display at the City Ground as Anthony Elanga dismantled a strong Brighton side, assisting in three goals and showcasing the electric pace and attacking intent that made him such an exciting prospect at Manchester United. Watching him tear down the flanks, fearless and relentless, it’s impossible not to wonder: Why is he doing this in Forest red and not at Old Trafford?
“Elanga’s story at United is one of rapid rise and equally swift departure. As a kid in the Carrington cages, he played with joy, dancing past opponents in tight spaces, honing the kind of skill that cannot be taught through rigid coaching structures. He was a footballer in the purest sense, bold, expressive, and unpredictable. When Ralf Rangnick handed him his first-team chance, he embraced it with both arms, injecting pace and energy into a struggling United side.
“The early signs were promising. He was fearless, direct and played with the enthusiasm of someone who knew the weight of the badge but was not burdened by it. He scored big goals, lifted fans off their feet, and looked like the next in a long line of great United wingers, [Steve] Coppell, [Andrei] Kanchelskis, [Ryan] Giggs, and [David] Beckham. But instead of being nurtured into a mainstay, he was deemed surplus to requirements. Sold for a relatively low fee, while United spent tens of millions searching for something they already had.”
Ruben Amorim would have loved Anthony Elanga
Elanga’s time at United was sort, with Erik ten Hag opting for his departure in the summer of 2023, with Nottingham Forest grabbing a – now bargain – £15m deal to sign him.
This was an exit which was caused by the manager at the time not using Elanga enough to keep him happy – and also not using him effectively.
Now, United are having to watch Elanga have a big impact for Forest in their Champions League push, as he outperforms the United wingers.
Elanga vs Manchester United wingers (including loanees) – 2024/25 Premier League season
| Player | Games | Goals | Assists |
| Elanga | 24 | 3 | 8 |
| Garnacho | 23 | 3 | 1 |
| Amad | 22 | 6 | 6 |
| Rashford | 15 | 4 | 1 |
| Antony | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Sancho | 18 | 2 | 4 |
Amad is the only player competing with Elanga for contributions – and in fact, Ruben Amorim would probably love Elanga, as he is tailor-made to play as a wing-back.
In the future, hopefully, the club won’t lose top potential players.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/07L56hA