Amidst the improvement shown by the senior team this season, Chido Obi has flown under the radar, having gone back to the youth system, but he continues to pass every test under Ruben Amorim.
When Chido Obi was poached from Arsenal in the summer of 2024, it kick-started the Ineos recruitment drive in youth circles in spectacular fashion.
Man Utd were getting a potentially generational talent from their direct rival after a season where they finished 8th.
It was widely expected that Obi had been made some promises about first-team progression, which came true as well, but what makes him special is the things he’s done after his senior breakthrough.
Chido Obi’s baptism of fire at Man Utd
Everyone knew Obi was a serial goalscorer, as his record at the youth level was borderline video game-like numbers for both Arsenal and Man Utd.
It didn’t exactly pan out that way when he made his senior debut, and United’s run to the Europa League final last season ensured he got a lot of senior football.
Obi didn’t look ready for it, and even though he finished the season by striking twice in a postseason game, he knew he had to go back to the drawing board.
What has happened since then makes fans more convinced than ever that he’s destined to be a special talent.
Back to the drawing board
For such a highly rated youngster who was probably promised the world upon his arrival, a move back to the U21s could have been seen as a demotion.
That wouldn’t have sat right with Ruben Amorim, who stresses humility and hard work above everything else to succeed at Old Trafford.
Obi aced that test, playing and dominating for the Man Utd U21s, scoring goals against senior teams and youth teams alike.
He earned rave reviews from his coaches, and the result is a player whose goalscoring record no longer jumps off the page, but those who watch him now can see the huge strides he’s made.
Obi is now a more complete player. He drops deep to link up play, he runs the channels to stretch defences, he puts in the odd defensive shift, and most importantly, he tries to be involved in the game instead of hunting empty goals, which hurt the team’s system.
As a result, he’s more ready than ever before for a first-team spot. Obi has survived the baptism by fire, gone back to the drawing board, and is now ready to be unleashed.
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Man Utd have handled Obi perfectly
What this spell with the U21s has done is take the spotlight away from a player who was on cloud nine after his brace during the post-season tour last season.
He has been allowed to silently work hard on his all-around game away from the scrutiny of the first team, and he’s now a better player for it.
Because of his immense youth pedigree, it is easy to forget that Obi is still in a position where he qualifies to play U18s football!
To see him develop rapidly playing against seasoned pros shows that United have handled his progression perfectly.
As the team hopefully gets European football back next season, United can safely go into that season with the knowledge that Obi is a genuine first-team quality player now.
That’s a remarkable feat to achieve at just 18. What he eventually will be is special.
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