Every time Manchester United are linked with one of football’s rising stars, it is impossible not to be reminded of that Sir Jim Ratcliffe quote.
The Premier League giants have wasted so much time and resources bringing in fading superstars over the years when they could have been investing in youth and potential.
Where would Manchester United be now if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s request for Erling Haaland, Declan Rice and co had not been ignored? Even after a fine transfer window, United are still saddled with expensive veterans such as Christian Eriksen and Casemiro, two players who joined in the sort of deal that now appears to be a thing of the past under Ineos ownership.
Because Ratcliffe, speaking on the Geraint Thomas Cycling Club podcast in the spring, confirmed that he wanted United to sign not the current Kylian Mbappe or Jude Bellingham, but the ‘next’ one.
The Red Devils certainly appear to have placed extra focus on future superstars – rather than former superstars – of late. Leny Yoro, at just 18, was the most expensive of Man United’s five summer signings.
United also secured the services of Chido Obi-Martin and Sekou Kone – two of the most hotly-tipped talents in England and Africa – while putting extra emphasis on the South American market with River Plate’s Franco Mastantuono one name to keep a very close eye on.
Manchester United like Juventus starlet Lorenzo Anghele
Lorenzo Anghele – another Italy-based teenager – is also someone you might be hearing a lot more of in the coming months and years.
Tutto Juve report that Manchester United tried to sign the striker back in January – shortly after Ineos had finally agreed a deal with the Glazers – but Juventus considered him ‘unsellable’ at the time.
Eight months on, their stance has not changed. The Serie A giants are determined to tie Anghele down to a new contract, with talks already underway.
Whether they succeed or not in those discussions could determine whether Man United return with a vengeance for the Italy Under 20 international when the winter window rolls around again.
Anghele – who plays as a ‘second-striker’ or an attacking midfielder – scored nine times for Juventus’ youth side last season.
An elegant, silky player with excellent footwork in tight spaces and an eye for a pass, there are obvious comparisons to be made between Anghele and Joshua Zirkzee given their respective skillsets and the positions they tend to take up in the final third.
Anghele has ‘great quality’
Having made his Serie A debut against Hellas Verona back in August, staying at Juventus should not be a bad move as far as his development is concerned. Under Thiago Motta – linked with United before Erik ten Hag was kept on – Juve have handed out bows to numerous teenage talents at the start of the current campaign.
“We are all convinced that something important can be done with this boy, who has great quality,” Anghele’s agent, Giovanni Bia, tells Tutto Juve. “Juve believes a lot in his abilities. These boys who came out of Next Gen (academy) have been extraordinary.
“And, as proof of what was said before, I can add that the Bianconeri rejected several foreign offers last January.”
Bia believes there are shades of Alvaro Morata, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and even the three-time Ballon D’Or winner Marco van Basten in Anghele.
“For me, he’s very similar to Van Basten in terms of elegance,” the agent adds. “He is a second striker and has great individual technique. The way he varies across the whole frontline reminds one of Morata and Ibrahimovic.
“He is very ‘chameleonic’, because he can also cover the role of attacking midfielder or winger.”
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