Manchester United had a rollercoaster 2023, with enough bright sparks to be positive about looking into 2024.
Last year was full of ups and downs for Manchester United, and nobody knows quite what could lie ahead over the next 12 months. One thing we are confident in, is the club’s array of young talent providing a platform for future success.
In the club’s recent win over Aston Villa in December, United had eight academy players on the pitch at various stages of the game.
United’s young players are pretty special. The future looks break if they have the mental strength to cope with the insane pressures which come with representing a club like this, in its current guise.
READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfer deals for January 2024, ins, outs, loan moves
Best in the world
Two Manchester United youngsters have been named among the best under-20 players in the world, in their positions.
This came via a selection from the IFHHS, the International Federation of Football History and Statistics.
The two young players selected were Alejandro Garnacho, 19, and Rasmus Hojlund, 20.
United bought Garnacho from Atletico Madrid in 2020 for a six-figure fee and have developed him into a first teamer, with the forward winning the FA Youth Cup in 2022. He is now a full Argentina internatioanl.
Hojlund cost a lot more, with United paying Atalanta a fee of £64 million this summer. He is learning on the job at Old Trafford, with six goals this season so far.
Here is a look at the full IFHHS under-20 world XI, selected in a 3-4-3 formation…
- Sebastiano Desplanches (Palermo)
- Levi Colwill (Chelsea)
- Antonio Silva (Benfica)
- Alejandro Balde (Barcelona)
- Gavi (Barcelona)
- Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)
- Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
- Endrick (Real Madrid)
- Rasmus Hojlund (Manchester United)
- Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United)
Seeing two Manchester United players in this list among with some really top names shows the club are doing something right, in terms of recruitment and development. Next year it would not be a surprise to see Kobbie Mainoo on this list.
Garnacho and Hojlund valued above £80 million each
Both Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund have been valued at more than £80 million in a new study released last week by the CIES.
Garnacho is valued at just over £80 million, testament to his rapid development over the last year, and a huge leap on the fee the club paid to snap him up.
Hojlund is valued at around £85 million, which suggests Manchester United actually got him for cheap, this past summer.
Both players are under long term contracts, and Manchester United will be looking for them to demonstrate their ability on a consistent basis in 2024 and beyond.
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