{"id":373881,"date":"2025-08-26T02:56:27","date_gmt":"2025-08-26T02:56:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/373881\/"},"modified":"2025-08-26T02:56:27","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T02:56:27","slug":"manchester-uniteds-academy-moving-away-from-tradition-under-ruben-amorim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/373881\/","title":{"rendered":"Manchester United’s academy – moving away from tradition under Ruben Amorim?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Manchester United have always been known for their renowned academy, but under Ruben Amorim<\/a>, is it being underserved?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The likes of Toby Collyer, Harry Amass, Chido Obi and Tyler Fredricson all have made their first team debuts for United after coming through the academy. Collyer in the Community Shield under previous manager Erik ten Hag, then the trio of Obi, Amass and Fredricson under Amorim.<\/p>\n

As of March 2025, only Tottenham had played teenagers for longer than Manchester United (2,129), but already established academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo<\/a> and big money signing Leny Yoro were responsible for most of those. Obi joined last summer from Arsenal, as did fellow youngster Ayden Heaven, who joined in January 2025 from the Gunners.<\/p>\n

Collyer has since left Old Trafford to join Championship side West Bromwich Albion on loan, whilst Mainoo and the other four youngsters have yet to feature for United this season, failing to come off the bench in the first two Premier League games of the 2025-26 campaign. <\/p>\n

Mainoo is now being linked with a move away from United, with this season being the first since records began that the Red Devils have failed to give a single minute to an academy product in the opening two league matches, spanning pre-war times. Last season it was a combined 409 minutes from the first two league games. This unwanted record only betters the seasons of 15-16 and 16-17, with academy products only contributing 60 and 90 minutes.<\/p>\n

\n

Number of minutes spanning back to 2007.<\/p>\n

25\/26 \u2013 0
24\/25 \u2013 409
23\/24 \u2013 209
22\/23 \u2013 285
21\/22 \u2013 435
20\/21 \u2013 540
19\/20 \u2013 693
18\/19 \u2013 390
17\/18 \u2013 337
16\/17 \u2013 90
15\/16 \u2013 60
14\/15 \u2013 624
13\/14 \u2013 394
12\/13 \u2013 364
11\/12 \u2013 374
10\/11 \u2013 754
09\/10 \u2013 900
08\/09 \u2013 573
07\/08 \u2013 817<\/p>\n

\u2014 Benjamin Hunt (@JustAFootyFan_) August 24, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The 20-year-old is set to play against League Two side Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup, with Amorim saying Mainoo is fighting for a spot in the team with captain Bruno Fernandes.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s fighting for the position now with Bruno and I change two midfielders. I let Mason Mount [play] there because we want to score a goal and when I changed I felt the team need to return to one holding midfielder near Bruno.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo he (Mainoo) just needs to fight for the position with Bruno, as it should be at Manchester United. Sometimes he\u2019s going to play with Bruno, but at the moment he\u2019s fighting in training with Bruno for the position.\u201d<\/p>\n

Previous academy graduates Marcus Rashford<\/a> and Alejandro Garnacho<\/a> have been exiled from the squad with Rashford being sent on loan to Spanish Champions Barcelona. Garnacho is part of the United \u2018Bomb Squad\u2019 and is training away from the first-team, with links to a move to Chelsea a constant on daily transfer reports.<\/p>\n

Throwing money at problems seems to have been United\u2019s strategy since Sir Alex Ferguson\u2019s retirement 12-years-ago, but at least the identity of bringing through one of their own has always been laid bare. Under Amorim, it appears that identity is evaporating, as the pressure mounts on the Portuguese head coach, and it is not going down well with the Old Trafford faithful.<\/p>\n

If this strategy works then Amorim might win over his doubters, if it does not, then the 40-year-old might be in serious trouble.<\/p>\n

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