{"id":655578,"date":"2025-12-26T09:08:24","date_gmt":"2025-12-26T09:08:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/655578\/"},"modified":"2025-12-26T09:08:24","modified_gmt":"2025-12-26T09:08:24","slug":"bendito-mantato-man-utds-academy-answer-to-antoine-semenyo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/655578\/","title":{"rendered":"Bendito Mantato, Man Utd&#8217;s academy answer to Antoine Semenyo"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Missing out on Antoine Semenyo is a blow, but Manchester United have the depth of talent to recover.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There is no doubt that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unitedinfocus.com\/tag\/antoine-semenyo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Antoine Semenyo<\/a> would have been a great addition to Manchester United\u2019s squad, as one of the most in-form Premier League players this season.<\/p>\n<p>Semenyo plays with pace, directness and goal threat, as United found out in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unitedinfocus.com\/match-coverage\/man-utd-player-ratings-vs-bournemouth-7-10-star-steps-up-in-crazy-4-4-draw\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dramatic draw with Bournemouth<\/a> at Old Trafford.<\/p>\n<p>          What is your message to Antoine Semenyo? <\/p>\n<p class=\"grv-talking-point__subtitle\">Has he made a mistake choosing to join City? What should United do now?<\/p>\n<p>     <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/UIF-52-819x1024.png\" alt=\"Semenyo to City\" class=\"wp-image-318451\" \/>Getty Images     <\/p>\n<p> \ud83d\udc47 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say <\/p>\n<p>Semenyo chose to chase the money at City, with United unwilling to match the wages on offer from The Etihad.<\/p>\n<p>Among the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unitedinfocus.com\/transfer-news\/what-antoine-semenyo-said-in-2022-about-his-best-position-makes-him-even-more-intriguing-for-ruben-amorim\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">attributes Semenyo would have brought<\/a> to United, he would have been instantly ready to contribute. At the age of 25, he is in the best form of his life, and it has been a long journey to get there.<\/p>\n<p>Manchester United must back one of the club\u2019s own raw talents so that he can develop in the same way.<\/p>\n<p>Bendito Mantato can become United\u2019s Semenyo<\/p>\n<p>Antoine Semenyo experienced a long journey to the top, after being rejected by various Premier League academies, before landing with Bristol City. His career only really got off the ground with a loan to Newport County.<\/p>\n<p>The main point here is that it has taken him a long time to become the player we know today, who regularly produces top performances in the Premier League.<\/p>\n<p>United already have a number of top quality first team attackers, so it makes some sense to pivot and lean into the development of young star <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unitedinfocus.com\/tag\/bendito-mantato\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bendito Mantato<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"743\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/GettyImages-2246035815-1024x743.jpg\" alt=\"Bendito Mantato of England battles for possession with Abdelaziz Elzoghby of Egypt during the first stage Group E match between Egypt and England at Aspire Zone Pitch 7 on November 10, 2025\" class=\"wp-image-308515\" \/>Photo by Mohamed Farag \u2013 FIFA\/FIFA via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.unitedinfocus.com\/academy\/cash-in-on-antony-the-future-of-manchester-uniteds-right-hand-side-looks-to-be-in-seriously-safe-hands\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mantato<\/a>, 17, has been winning rave reviews for his performances in the academy for the past two years.<\/p>\n<p>He is eight years behind Semenyo in his timeline, and there is a lot of time to be patient and back him to become a star.<\/p>\n<p>Mantato shares key traits to his game with the Bournemouth and Ghana international.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"inline-links multi\">\n<li>Pace<\/li>\n<li>Eye for goal<\/li>\n<li>Versatility<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Mantato\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unitedinfocus.com\/club\/manchester-united-academy-team\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">academy<\/a> game time this season has been less consistent, because he spent a spell away with England at the under-17s World Cup.<\/p>\n<p>Last season he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unitedinfocus.com\/academy\/man-utd-under-21s-top-scorers-and-assists-in-2024-25-all-results\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">led the under-21s for assists<\/a>, while netting three goals of his own. And this was in addition to scoring nine goals for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unitedinfocus.com\/academy\/man-utd-under-18s-top-scorers-and-assists-in-2024-25-all-results\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">under-18s<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>He once netted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unitedinfocus.com\/academy\/16-year-old-bukayo-saka-regen-shines-for-manchester-united-u18s-in-four-goal-display\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">four goals in an under-18s game<\/a>, and has earned <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unitedinfocus.com\/news\/who-is-bendito-mantato-man-utds-brilliant-bukayo-saka-like-talent-who-ruben-amorim-rates-highly\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">comparisons to Bukayo Saka<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Mantato can play as a winger, a wing-back, or even at full-back, and he can play on the left or right side. This makes him an attractive option in Ruben Amorim\u2019s system, and enhances his chance of a breakthrough.<\/p>\n<p>          WHAT are your BOLD predictions for 2026?\ud83d\udd2e <\/p>\n<p class=\"grv-talking-point__subtitle\">Silverware? Big signings? Ruben Amorim&#8217;s future?<\/p>\n<p>     <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/GettyImages-2251569033-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is interviewed after a press conference at the Carrington training complex in 2025 in Manchester, England.\" class=\"wp-image-316161\" \/>Photo by Ash Donelon\/Manchester United via Getty Images     <\/p>\n<p> \ud83d\udc47 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say <\/p>\n<p>   Mantato close to making debut<\/p>\n<p>On the day <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unitedinfocus.com\/tag\/jack-fletcher\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jack Fletcher<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unitedinfocus.com\/tag\/shea-lacey\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Shea Lacey<\/a> made their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unitedinfocus.com\/news\/how-jack-fletcher-and-shea-lacey-fared-on-their-man-united-debut-vs-aston-villa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Manchester United debuts<\/a> against Aston Villa, Bendito Mantato was on the bench.<\/p>\n<p>It was the first time the Manchester born talent had ever made the first team squad for a competitive game. He has traveled on overseas tours for friendlies, and benefited from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unitedinfocus.com\/news\/mason-mount-has-taken-man-utd-wonderkid-under-his-wing-this-summer-giving-him-tips-on\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">close advice from Mason Mount<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Ahead of his 18th birthday in late January, Mantato would become one of Manchester United\u2019s youngest ever debutants if he makes his debut.<\/p>\n<p>After the game against Villa, captain <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unitedinfocus.com\/match-coverage\/bruno-fernandes-spotted-taking-one-man-utd-wonderkid-under-his-wing-after-aston-villa-loss\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bruno Fernandes was seen taking Mantato under his wing<\/a> to impart some important words of advice as the players left the pitch.<\/p>\n<p>His progress clearly has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unitedinfocus.com\/tag\/ruben-amorim\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ruben Amorim<\/a> taking note. While there is a long way to go to reach Semenyo\u2019s levels, United have every reason to believe he can develop into a player who brings a similar goal threat from wide areas.<\/p>\n<p>  Join Our Newsletter <\/p>\n<p>Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Missing out on Antoine Semenyo is a blow, but Manchester United have the depth of talent to recover.&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":655579,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4100],"tags":[16239,32607,94,79,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-655578","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"tag-antoine-semenyo","9":"tag-bendito-mantato","10":"tag-football","11":"tag-sports","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115785086927664762","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/655578","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=655578"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/655578\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/655579"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=655578"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=655578"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=655578"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}