“I’ve spoken…” What Manchester United privately told Denmark boss about Chido Obi

Denmark’s Under-21 manager, Steffen Højer, has revealed what Manchester United coaches have said about Chido Obi following his call-up to the national side.

Earlier this season, Manchester United captured the signing of 16-year-old Chido Obi from Premier League rivals Arsenal, with the young striker signing his first professional contract with the club once he turned 17.

The young Dane has been touted as one of the best future strikers in Europe, with many who know Obi seeing the signing as a major coup.

After bedding himself in with the Academy teams, Obi made his debut for United last month during a 1-0 loss against Tottenham and has since made a further three appearances for Rúben Amorim’s first team.

Obi has now been rewarded with his first call-up to Denmark’s Under-21s team for the first time, moving up from the Under-18s category.

What United told Denmark about Obi

Amid the commencement of the international break, Denmark Under-21s boss Steffen Højer has discussed his selections with Danish outlet Bold, and spoke of Obi’s qualities.

Højer has revealed what one Manchester United coach privately told him about Obi in training, and what they want to see from Denmark in the coming days with respect to the player’s continued development.

“I’ve spoken to an assistant coach from United who says that Chido doesn’t hold back when they train over there,” Højer said. “I’m looking forward to seeing him, and I’m also looking forward to giving him the peace he needs now, to just come in and see what this is all about.”

Højer was then questioned about what United had told him about Obi and explained: “It’s really just mostly about the training part, as I can follow the jump-in and so on.

“But they have been satisfied with what they have seen in training. He has some unique qualities. He has a wild physique and is a strong finisher, so they have seen that there as well.

“That is why they give him those minutes. Of course there is also a reason why he also gets the minutes at United, because it is not their best year.

“But on the other hand, it also shows something that they still dare to put a 17-year-old Dane on the United team in the situation they are in now. After all, they have done that a few times now.”

Obi set for first senior start this season

With Obi becoming an increasingly involved part of Amorim’s first-team squads, it’s not far-fetched to suggest that the player will be handed his first start before the end of the season.

Although Amorim has been keen to suggest in the past that he wants to protect his young players, the head coach has become more trusting of his Academy crop of late, with Ayden Heaven having made two starts, Collyer becoming reintegrated into the side, and Harry Amass making his debut.

Obi played five minutes at the end of United’s 3-0 win over Leicester City and was on the pitch as Bruno Fernandes notched in a stunning effort to claim his Player of the Matcha award.

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With Amorim clearly becoming more trusting of young players such as Obi and the club hopefully playing twice a week from now until the end of the campaign should they go all the way in the Europa League, rotation will need to happen.

Therefore, Obi may be handed a first start to rest first-team striker Rasmus Højlund at some point before the end of the season.

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