‘Excellent’ Liverpool talent claims he trained at Manchester United before Anfield deal

Add as preferred source on Google

Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah has admitted that he spent time in the Manchester United ranks before committing to the Reds.

United fans love seeing a player come up through the youth ranks.

From the famed ‘Class of 92’ to the rise of Kobbie Mainoo this season, nothing beats a young prospect rising up to become a first-team star.

United have a rich history in that regard and will hope to have a few more like Mainoo coming through in the near future.

Down the M62, Liverpool are having enormous success with their youth development and one player was actually in the building at United before choosing Anfield…

Jarell Quansah on Manchester United

The Reds famously won the Carabao Cup against Chelsea last month whilst using a host of young players.

One of them was defender Jarell Quansah, who came on for Ibrahima Konate to partner Virgil van Dijk in the heart of defence.

The Warrington-born centre back – hailed as ‘excellent’ by Andy Robertson – has really broken through this season and his impressive displays have caught the eye.

Quansah has now told The Athletic that he did the rounds as a youngster, joining a host of North West clubs for training as he weighed up who to join.

United were one of the clubs Quansah joined, alongside Manchester City, Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers, with his family believing that he was better off having more options.

In the end, Quansah picked Liverpool, believing that the Reds offered ‘the best training’ – and it’s a decision which has paid off.

“I went around different places to see what was out there: I did City, (Manchester) United, Wigan, Bolton… all of them,” said Quansah. “Back then, I was just playing and enjoying what I was doing. Any time I could play football, I was happy. My parents thought having more options would be better.”

“I just remember Liverpool offering the best training. That was where I enjoyed my football the most and that’s why I stayed,” he added.

Who can become United’s Quansah?

Quansah’s rise has been quite sudden having only been on loan in League One this time last year.

United would no doubt love to have a centre back emerging like Quansah, especially with veteran Jonny Evans now being relied upon.

So who could emerge and become a first-team star like Quansah?

Willy Kambwala sticks out having been around the first-team picture this season.

The 19-year-old has been highly-regarded at United and the hope is that he can really kick on over the next 18 months.

Fellow 19-year-old Sonny Aljofree has captained the United Under-21’s and is out on loan at non-league side Altrincham.

Aljofree could be one to watch in the years to come but Kambwala is certainly ahead of him right now and looks like the most likely centre back to break through at Old Trafford.