Ruben Amorim has now singled out one first-team Manchester United talent as a clear-cut example for other Red Devils players to learn from at Old Trafford.
The 40-year-old Manchester United manager saw out the Red Devils’ turbulent 2024-25 campaign at Old Trafford after his arrival from Sporting CP last November.
Ruben Amorim watched on from the Old Trafford dugout as United defeated 10-man Aston Villa 2-0 on Sunday in their final Premier League clash of the season.
The Red Devils limped to a 15th-place finish in the Premier League table under Amorim after United’s league result against Aston Villa on the weekend.
United will now be without European football for the 2025-26 campaign at Old Trafford after the Red Devils’ poor run of form in the 2024-25 season.
Amorim’s men also missed out on their route back to the Champions League last Wednesday after United’s Europa League defeat to Tottenham in Bilbao.
Tottenham inflicted a 1-0 defeat on United in the 2025 Europa League final at the San Mames Stadium and Spurs punched their ticket to the Champions League.
Ruben Amorim drops the ultimate compliment on Ayden Heaven after Man Utd defender’s debut season at Old Trafford
Ayden Heaven was snapped up from the Arsenal youth academy during the January transfer window and the ex-Gunners talent arrived at Old Trafford in February.
The 18-year-old centre-back has already secured valuable Manchester United first-team experience under Ruben Amorim since he made the switch to Manchester.
Ayden Heaven has impressed with his performances for the Red Devils and the United defender managed six senior appearances in the 2024-25 campaign.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Amorim admitted that United will be limited in their spending in the summer transfer window.
However, the former Sporting CP boss highlighted that Heaven was an example of a youth academy product who has already ‘proven’ that he is a first-team player.
“It’s a good opportunity to see the young players and sometimes we have surprises like Ayden [Heaven], who every time he has played, has proved that he’s a first-team player,” Amorim said, as per BBC Sport.
“Without the Champions League, we also don’t need a big squad, we can control [it] in a better way.
“Then we have a plan that is to bring [in] some new players. Our big plan is to improve the team we have and improve the academy as that is our future, as it was in past. It’s not going to change so much.
“We have financial fair play rules, so we are not allowed to do so much this summer.”
Mason Mount speaks out ahead of Man Utd’s return to action only days after the end of the Premier League season
Mason Mount was at the pre-match press conference and welcomed United’s opportunity to play ASEAN All-Stars in Malaysia on their post-season tour.
“It was a quick turnaround, obviously straight on the plane after the game,” he said on Tuesday.
“We’re all very excited to be over here, we don’t get the opportunity to be over this side of the world and see our fans over here very often, so we obviously want to make the most of it.
“We got off the plane and there were hundreds of people waiting for us, to take pictures and welcome us to the country.
“So, I’m very excited to be over here and obviously looking forward to the game tomorrow.”
United and ASEAN All-Stars’ friendly match will be played at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium on Wednesday, with kick-off for the tie slated for 1:45pm UK time.
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