Manchester United have seen Kobbie Mainoo become a first-team star from the academy ranks, but not everybody heads on that path.
The Manchester United academy has been producing talent for a long, long time.
The attention naturally goes all the way back to the Class of 92, which saw the likes of David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Gary Neville emerge as first-team stars.
In more recent times, Marcus Rashford has become a mainstay of the United first team despite some mixed form.
Kobbie Mainoo is the most recent success story having emerged as a real star for United last season.
Coming up through the ranks and becoming a first-team superstar is the dream for United prospects, but it doesn’t happen for everybody.
Ex-Manchester United talent comments on Jose Mourinho
One player who looked set for stardom was one-time wonderkid Callum Gribbin.
Gribbin hails from Salford and spent 11 years in the United ranks whilst being dubbed as the next Ryan Giggs.
Gribbin never made a first-team appearance for United though, leaving the club in 2019 as injuries contributed to his development stalling.
The attacking midfielder joined Sheffield United before dropping down to Barrow, Radcliffe and now FC United of Manchester.
Gribbin suffered a major injury in 2023 and started a fundraiser to help him go through crucial surgery.
Now 25, Gribbin has commented on his time at United – and his frustration under Jose Mourinho.
Speaking to The Athletic, Gribbin stated that he thought Mourinho didn’t even care about seeing him in action.
Gribbin suggested that Mourinho would be on the phone during training and not paying attention to his efforts.
Gribbin feels that he maybe shouldn’t have been so annoyed looking back, but he was just so frustrated at not getting his chance at United.
“I used to think, ‘He’s not arsed, is he? He doesn’t even care about getting to know my name’. I look back now and I know I shouldn’t have got p****d off about it,” said Gribbin.
“But at the time, it used to get to me that I’d go out for training and he wouldn’t even watch. He’d be speaking to his staff or on the phone and I used to think, ‘I’m here, I’m trying to get a chance and he’s not even interested’.
“If I did say something to anyone, he’d be looking at me like, ‘You can’t be having a go, you’re an 18-year-old training with the first team’. But in my head, I was thinking, ‘No, I want to get a chance here’. So there were a few issues with Mourinho and other staff. Little things, just building up,” he added.
Callum Gribbin featuring for FC United of Manchester
There were high hopes for Gribbin and fans were hoping to see him become a star, but it just didn’t happen.
Gribbin’s journey shows just how difficult it is to reach the top level of the game as so many things can go against you.
Maybe it’s repeated injuries, maybe it’s a coach who doesn’t place all that much emphasis on young players.
Gribbin is still playing though and finds himself in the Northern Premier League Premier Division with FC United of Manchester.
The club formed by United fans who opposed the Glazer family takeover in 2005, FC United of Manchester are now in the seventh tier of English football.
Based in Moston, FC United of Manchester play a strong role in the community and can now boast considerable names such as Gribbin and Adam Le Fondre.
Reaching the Football League is still a long, long way off but Gribbin can now play a part in something special in non-league as FC United of Manchester United look to progress.
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