Former Manchester United starlet Indy Boonen is reportedly heading for a new adventure in Qatar five years after his time at the Premier League giants came to an end.
When putting pen to paper with the Red Devils back in 2015 – Boonen arriving at Old Trafford from Genk during the Louis van Gaal era – the teenager admitted that he was living the ‘dream’ at Manchester United.
Now, it would be more than a little hyperbolic to suggest his dream turned into a North West nightmare. But Boonen’s three-year stint at arguably the world’s largest footballing institution still let the former Belgium U19 international with his fair share of regrets.
Former Man United starlet heading to Qatar
“The first team, that was a different world. You were hardly looked at, not even by (fellow Belgian Romelu) Lukaku,” Boonen sighed to Het Laaste Nieuws, turning down a new contract with United before leaving for KV Oostende (Manchester Evening News).
“(Jose) Mourinho? He did not look at me. He gave me a hand, like all players, but was otherwise very distant. He isolated himself with a few of his players. Never have we spoken, even though I was a fixture in the youth team.”
This, unfortunately, is a story many young players who shared a training pitch with Mourinho will be familiar with. It’s not hard to imagine that, if Van Gaal had stuck around for another season or two, a manager who gave opportunities to the likes of Paddy McNair, Tyler Blackett and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson may have bestowed a senior debut upon young Boonen too.
Set for Qatar
Now 24, Boonen finds himself without a club again. His Oostende deal expired in July and, according to Tuttomercatoweb, his next destination is likely to be Qatar despite interest from a number of European clubs.
Boonen will reportedly join Al Waeb after receiving a ‘rich offer’ from the Qatari outfit.