Manchester United are now asking Chido Obi an important question after exit of highly-regarded figure

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Manchester United secured the signing of one of the most highly rated strikers in European football when Chido Obi signed for the club.

One year ago Manchester United’s deal for Chido Obi had just been approved. He spectacularly announced himself for the under-18s with a 20-minute hat-trick on his first start.

Obi scored 17 goals in all competitions for the academy teams in his first season, and went on to make his Manchester United debut in February.

The teenager then scored twice on the postseason tour and even started the first preseason game this summer in Sweden against Leeds. It looked like the sky was the limit.

Manchester United are asking Chido Obi to keep the faith

Manchester United’s US tour did not go so well for Chido Obi. He barely featured and upon his return, failed to make the bench for United’s Premier League opener.

He has not played a single first team minute this season so far, and has not made a matchday squad.

Chido Obi made a huge commitment when he quit Arsenal to join Manchester United’s project, and right now the Red Devils are asking him to keep the faith.

Obi is certainly being tested right now. It may not help that one of the key figures in recruiting him to United has just left.

Luke Fedorenko was the head of academy recruitment and was credited with having a large role in signing the teenager. BBC Sport report he has left Old Trafford.

Now Chido Obi may be wondering how joined-up United’s project is that he signed up for, due to his decreasing minutes and the behind-the-scenes change.

This is a major test of Obi’s mentality. He has to remain headstrong that he made the right choice to join United, and not allow the setbacks to affect him.

What has gone wrong for Chido Obi in recent months

Chido Obi has been a victim of the poor results achieved by Manchester United’s first team last season.

The failure to achieve European qualification has slashed Manchester United’s ability to rotate the squad, with only one game per week.

Joshua Zirkzee, a £36 million signing from Bologna in 2024, is taking the back-up striker role on United’s bench, and he can barely get a look-in. Chido Obi is stuck in the queue.

His situation is similar to all of United’s best prospects right now. There are no first team opportunities. This could change if results stabilise.

While acknowledging all of this, Obi is clearly lacking something that Ruben Amorim is looking for right now, or he would have made at least one squad. He was not included in the ill-fated Carabao Cup squad against Grimsby.

Obi is trying his best to make an impact in the under-21s. He has scored three goals so far, while having to split minutes with Gabriele Biancheri and Victor Musa.

It is also key to remember that Chido Obi is only 17. The very fact he has already featured for the first team is a remarkable achievement.

Now he is back in the lab working on his game, and he must trust that opportunities will come his way, and that his faith in United was justified.