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Erik ten Hag sold me at Manchester United – and even Bruno Fernandes thinks it was a mistake

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It would be fair to say that Manchester United have struggled to make the correct decisions in the transfer market when it comes to academy players.

Over the years, some talented youngsters at Manchester United have never been given a chance to blossom at Old Trafford and eventually forged careers elsewhere – Angel Gomes’ move to LOSC Lille is a good example.

Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo are two of the biggest examples of players who have made the jump from the United academy to the Red Devils first team but some players slip through the cracks.

Talented teenager Maxi Oyedele departed United this summer but it appears that the decision from the midfielder has proven to be a very wise one.

Manchester United v Real Betis - Pre-Season Friendly
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images

How Maxi Oyedele has fared since departing Manchester United

Oyedele decided to call time on his United career in the summer and completed a move to Polish giants Legia Warsaw in search of first-team football.

United sold Oyedele for just £500,000 during the summer but the Red Devils do have a significant sell-on clause in the deal, which could become significant if he carries on performing as well as he has done.

Oyedele received a call-up to the Polish national team last week and it seems that departing the club under Erik ten Hag has proven to be a wise choice for the youngster.

He has featured in four matches for the Polish side including a UEFA Europa Conference League match and he is only going to improve.

Jacek Zielinski, Legia’s sporting director, said at the time that Oyedele had ‘incredible potential’ but the midfielder wasn’t seen as a first-team addition just yet.

The Polish press claimed that Oyedele could be ‘the cure to Warsaw’s problems’ so it certainly seems a strange decision to sell the teenager.

Bruno Fernandes’ ‘shock’ over United’s decision to sell Maxi Oyedele

United captain Bruno Fernandes was seemingly a big fan of Oyedele after the Polish teenager impressed during pre-season for the Red Devils.

According to Legia boss Goncalo Feio, Fernandes was surprised over United’s decision to allow the midfielder to leave Old Trafford.

“The quality on the ball, the personality, the character to keep the ball, the choices, when to lead, play with one touch,” Feio said as per The Mirror.

“It is no coincidence that Bruno Fernandes, when we spoke to him, said he was shocked that United were letting him go, because he looked great in pre-season with Manchester.

“The level at which he plays is also related to the number of duels won in the central zone. His physical maturity, motor skills and ability to use his body are at a high level.

“Although I know that the fans and probably you, journalists, like what he does with the ball the most, Maxi gives us a very big physical presence in the midfield.”

Whilst Oyedele’s move to Poland is for a nominal fee, the Red Devils have included multiple clauses in the deal such as a buyback clause and matching rights clause – this means United could match another club’s offer for Oyedele and could sign him back.