Eye-catching 16-year-old Manchester United whizkid now spotted in first-team training for the first time

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As is becoming a weekly occurrence right now for Manchester United, another talented teenager has been called into first-team training.

Manchester United are currently in the midst of a golden generation in regards to academy players with far too many to count being considered top talents.

With the likes of Harry Amass, Ethan Williams and Ethan Wheatley all impressive and finding themselves regulars in first-team training, it’s clearly a talented group.

The most exciting of them all is 16-year-old Shea Lacey, who is set for his return from injury this weekend.

But there is another teenager who has recently begun to feature regularly at a U18 level named Bendito Mantato who’s potentially just as exciting. Now, Erik ten Hag has called him into first-team training to have a closer look at him.

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Bendito Mantato called into first-team training for Manchester United

Last week it was Gabriele Biancheri getting his chance in the first-team training session and now it’s Mantato who only turned 16 in January.

Mantato is a right winger, and with the current situation in that position, Ten Hag may be taking a look at some long-term options for the position.

The English wonderkid was spotted in training, on the ball with academy graduates turned first-team stars Kobbie Mainoo and Willy Kambwala behind him.

It’s unlikely this is an audition for the senior team, with Mantato having a long way to go before he’d be considered for a debut at the senior level. Rather this is probably for experience and a reward for his excellent displays this season.

How has Bendito Mantato played this season for the U18 side?

Having just turned 16, Mantato hasn’t even spent a full year with the U18 side with just three U18 Premier League appearances to his name this season, although he has been in and around the team since he was 14.

But in these three, he’s managed a goal and two assists which is phenomenal as he’s only just stepped up from U16 level.

Hopes are high for Mantato, with a recent report by The Guardian naming him along with Amir Ibragimov as two talents that club insiders say have the talent to surpass the current crop of impressive U18s.

An extremely exciting future for Mantato at United and we cannot wait to see how he develops.