The signing of Chido Obi was a huge statement for Manchester United as to where the club is heading under Ineos.
Last summer, Arsenal were preparing to lose Chido Obi, with much of Europe expected to be looking to sign the sensational academy striker.
Obi’s goal record for Arsenal meant Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund were tipped as being keen on the Dane, however, it was Manchester United who won the race, convincing him to move up north.
Since then, Obi has replicated this excellence for United with 15 goals across U18 and U21 levels despite his season only starting in October.
READ: Man Utd under-18s top scorers and assists in 2024/25, all results
After accumulating such an impressive goal record for the academy, Obi was handed his United first team debut by Ruben Amorim and has looked the part ever since, making himself a permanent fixture.
Now, academy director Nick Cox has discussed United’s No.56.
How Manchester United convinced Chido Obi to join last summer
Obi is one of the best coups in recent memory for the academy, and now Cox has been discussing the move in an interview with Manchester Evening News.
“Occasionally, you get moments like this,” Cox explained around Obi’s about the transfer.
“Arsenal are a wonderful club. They deliver a great program and develop great players. For one reason or another, and it’s for Chido and his family to know why, they felt the best opportunities for him may rest away from Arsenal.
“Because he holds a Danish passport, the whole of Europe was open to Chido. We quite simply became aware of the fact that Chido was about to make a move to Europe.
“He’d been to visit a club and identified the club where he was going to potentially end up. We thought if this player is available and is looking to leave, then we should make every effort we possibly can to sign him.”
“It was a real concerted effort to sign Chido, so there’d been a lot of work done by our recruitment team led by Luke Fedderenko, and Stephen Ajewole would have played a key role in that as well. Sam Williams, too.
“The coaching staff would have played a key role as well because we’re trying to present an opportunity. This is our staff, this is our history and track record of developing players. This is what the program looks like, this is the resource that would be available to you. This is how we see the club in the future.
“We had an opportunity to meet with Chido’s family and the important people to him. We had a number of conversations that allowed us the opportunity to be the club that he chose to join.”
Obi was right to trust United as he looks set to be a big player under Amorim.
How Manchester United feel about Chido Obi right now
It is crystal clear that Obi has everything to be an elite striker, although his qualities are still raw.
However, in the Cox interview, MEN also claimed that around Old Trafford, there is a growing certainty that Obi could become a star for United in the future.
There are nine Premier League games left this season, of which we would expect to see Obi receive plenty of chances to perform, with no pressure considering the club’s domestic campaign is effectively over.
United believe they have found a superstar, and this coup has inspired further deals such as Ayden Heaven and likely more this summer.
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