Manchester United starlet Shola Shoretire has the potential to break into the first-team in a similar manner to how Mason Greenwood did so just last season. The youngster, who turned 17 earlier this month, has already surpassed records at Old Trafford and looks to have an incredible skill set. There is no doubt that we could see him as a star of the team in just a few years.
Shola Shoretire: The Mason Greenwood of 2021
Greenwood’s Rise to Stardom
Mason Greenwood has rapidly become one of the most exciting prospects in world football.
The English attacker made a name for himself last campaign, becoming a vital part of United’s attack despite his age. Greenwood scored 18 senior goals across all competitions during the 2019/20 season, and was considered to be one of the most talented young players in the game. Not only was he clearly immensely capable, arguably the best finisher at the Theatre of Dreams already, but he also had the intelligence to know how to use it. This is what made him such a hit on the biggest stage in football, looking like an accomplished footballer despite playing against some of the best players the world has to offer.
The 19-year-old was particularly potent during Project Restart last summer, creating a formidable trio alongside Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial. Notably, Greenwood played a large part in the Red Devils’ 5-2 victory over Bournemouth in July, providing the difference in a game that was so vital in United’s push for Champions League qualification. His input was even more important after the Manchester side conceded first to the relegation battlers, falling behind after just 15 minutes.
Greenwood has struggled at the start of this season, overcoming various personal issues. It seems that he has now refound his form, though. having looked much improved in recent weeks. While he has only scored one Premier League goal this campaign, he has still had a positive influence on the team, and there is no doubt that he will once again return to his clinical self.
Shoretire Could See a Very Similar Path to Success
Like Greenwood, Shola Shoretire is a supremely talented youngster. The 17-year-old has shown this countless times over the past few months in the under-23s, finally earning a call up to first-team training, alongside midfield maestro Hannibal Mejbri.
Such a fast debut was not particularly widely expected, however, with the Englishman getting his first taste of Premier League football when the Red Devils faced Newcastle United on February 21st. He has since played in the Europa League, becoming United’s youngest ever player to appear in a European match.
This is not the first record that Shoretire has broken either. The wonderkid became the youngest player ever to appear in the UEFA Youth League when he was introduced as a substitute for the under-19s at the age of just 14. Just over two years later and he has beaten another record, and there will likely be many more to come.
The Newcastle-born attacker has been impressive for United’s under-23s this season. His fantastic form since the turn of the year has evidently caught the attention of the first-team coaching staff, who are now focusing on his development.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer brought Mason Greenwood into the team perfectly. The youngster is now largely irreplaceable, and this is down to the expertise of his manager. It appears that the Champions League-winning former striker is doing the same thing with Shoretire, slowly introducing him with a vision of his becoming a regular starter not being too far away. Alongside new arrival Amad Diallo, the wonderkid may well become United’s star of this season, clearly having the ability to become a world-class player.
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