Not every Manchester United academy youngster can break through and become the next Mason Greenwood.
Others are not even given the option to go out on loan and impress like James Garner, before coming back to try and crack the first team.
The standard at United is high, and so there are a number of young players released each and every year.
United pride themselves on producing quality young footballers who even if they don’t crack it at Old Trafford, they go on to establish themselves elsewhere.
You need only look at the likes of Danny Simpson, Danny Drinkwater and Ryan Shawcross for examples of players who have gone onto enjoy strong top flight careers even though they didn’t quite make the grade at United.
One of the players released in the summer of 2019 was midfielder Tom Sang.
Sang was let go in the same summer Ander Herrera and Antonio Valencia said their goodbyes.
While at United he played in the UEFA Youth League in the same side as Ethan Laird and Angel Gomes. After featuring for the under-18s, he made seven under-23 appearances, and was called up to train with the first team briefly in 2018.
In the end though, his release wasn’t too much of a surprise. He was sent on loan to non-league side Fylde in his final few months, and eventually landed a deal with Cardiff City’s development squad as a free agent.
He made just one appearance in 2019/20, before being sent on loan to Cheltenham Town in the first half of this season.
Upon his return, amid injuries, Sang was given a chance by Mick McCarthy earlier this year, and he has seized it.
Sang was rewarded for his recent efforts with a new contract extension this week, landing a two-year deal.
Speaking to the club website, McCarthy praised the youngster, “When I came here – I just saw something in him. He’s a really good guy, a good character, a hard worker, a good footballer and a positive guy on the pitch.
“When I’ve asked him to play at right wing-back because of Perry’s injury, he’s been brilliant. He really has been outstanding. He thoroughly deserves this contract. I’m delighted for him that he’s taken his chance and delighted he has this new deal.”
Sang is just 21, and still has a lot to prove. This new deal gives him the platform to do so.
Cardiff are eighth, too far back to mount a late play-off push at this point, but Sang should be a key part of their squad for next season.
It would have been easy for him to fade at Cardiff and bounce down the divisions.
The former United youngster deserves credit, and he may yet come face to face with the Red Devils in the Premier League one day.
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