Manchester United prospect Isak Hansen-Aaroen is waiting for a first team chance at the club which may never come.
This week Manchester United academy coach Travis Binnion confirmed that Dan Gore has joined Kobbie Mainoo as a regular in the first team squad.
The pair were two-thirds of Manchester United’s FA Youth Cup winning midfield in 2022. The odd player out, so far, is Isak Hansen-Aaroen.
Hansen-Aaroen is not yet in first team contention, and there is debate over what his future holds.
Isak Hansen-Aaroen is close but not close enough
Isak Hansen-Aaroen has featured for Manchester United under Erik ten Hag in friendly games only. His first opportunity came in 2022 at Old Trafford against Rayo Vallecano.
Then last winter against Cadiz he started after Donny van de Beek pulled out due to an injury in the warm-up. He was replaced at half-time by Kobbie Mainoo, who scored two minutes into the second half.
This pre-season he featured against Leeds in his native Norway and impressed, but more substantial opportunities have not come his way.
Even amid injuries, Hansen-Aaroen awaits his first team chance, and may have to head out on loan to get first team action. He remains stuck in under-21 football, watching his teammates from afar.
City promoting Oscar Bobb ignites Hansen-Aaroen debate
This week Hansen-Aaroen left a message congratulating Manchester City’s Oscar Bobb after he scored in their Champions League game. Bobb is a former youth international colleague of the Manchester United talent, who is now featuring for their senior team and City’s first team.
This stirred up a talking point on social media, over when Manchester United’s own Norwegian talent will get his chance.
X user Joe Nuttall wrote: “Last night, Pep Guardiola started Oscar Bobb in the Champions League, and he repaid his faith with a goal and a great performance. I wish United would give our talented Norwegian player a chance in the first team. Isak Hansen-Aaroen has really outgrown academy football now, and he needs exposure to senior football.
“He was just 15 when he made his senior debut for Tromso in Norway. He is a wonderful midfielder, elegant on the ball, great in tight spaces and has a great passing range. He is widely regarded as one of the best talents in United’s academy. There is the threat that Isak leaves the club in January or the summer, so United just need to give him first team minutes and let him flourish.
“He is certainly one talent who the club would regret losing if it was to happen. I hope Isak is given a chance soon, because he thoroughly deserves it. He is an exceptional talent.”
There were a host of responses, many of which reflected on City simply being in a better position to throw more young players into their first team right now, with Manchester United’s dire state making it more difficult for talented prospects to thrive.
One response read: “We aren’t in the circumstances to exactly give them a chance, City had a pointless game last night.”
Another said: “Wonderful player. Seen him a few times in youth team. The trouble is, with us struggling this will limit the time the youngsters get. If we were flying, like city were in the group then we would have the chance to give them minutes.”
A third response added: “His biggest issue is that he plays in Bruno’s position and Bruno barely ever misses a match.”
Others said: “Will be another Gomes story. Give it a couple years and fans will be crying saying why did we let him go,” and “Not in the current toxic environment…the prospects must be protected and natured properly.”
Hansen-Aaroen does need a new challenge
Manchester United do need to do right by Isak Hansen-Aaroen, and this might even involve a ruthless decision like the one which saw the club sell FA Youth Cup winner Marc Jurado to Espanyol on deadline day.
A preferable move would be to send Hansen-Aaroen out on loan. The 19-year-old can use this opportunity to develop and catapult himself up the pecking order at United for next season. He can return for pre-season 2024 as a stronger and better player, if he seizes the opportunity.
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