Former Manchester United youngster Aliou Traore is enjoying a surprise career revival in Turkey.
Reeling from losing Paul Pogba to Juventus in 2012 and buying him back for £89 million, Manchester United made the decision to try again in 2017.
Former Paris Saint-Germain trainee Aliou Traore signed with Manchester United’s academy and quickly stood out as a top prospect.
Traore’s gangly profile made him a standout at under-18s level, where his physical dominance and eye for goal had Manchester United fans excited about unearthing a gem.
What happened to Aliou Traore
Aliou Traore did not end up making the jump to first team level which Manchester United hoped.
He was not as influential at under-21 level, unable to get past James Garner, for instance, who himself never quite cracked it to become a first team regular at United.
In 2020 there were murmurings from Traore’s agent about his desire to play regular football, and he was sent out on loan to Caen to prove himself.
The loan spell in Ligue 2 proved to be a poor one, with Traore unable to hold down a spot, and he ended up being released at the end of the 2021 season. It wasn’t a surprise.
Aliou Traore’s career since leaving United
Aliou Traore did not latch onto a new club instantly, eventually signing with Italian side Parma in September 2021.
His spell at the club was not straightforward. He was bought merely as a back-up and played only two matches for them.
He then signed with Serie B side Frosinone, but only lasted a few months, failing to play a single first team game, before leaving Italy for Turkey on deadline day in January.
Traore joined Turkish side Goztepe, where he remains, and is finally beginning to get his career off the ground.
Aliou Traore’s career revival
Traore has played 14 matches this season for the Turkish second tier side, finally getting the chance to play regular first team football.
Last weekend he scored his first professional goals, netting twice in a cup game against 1461 Trabzon.
Then this weekend he made it four in two games, scoring a brace in a 3-0 league win over Genclerbirligi.
Still only 22, the former France youth international has finally ignited his career and can start enjoying his football again.
He may never hit the heights Manchester United hoped, but all those years at Carrington may belatedly come in useful.
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