6 goals, 9 wins – Manchester United’s 16 y/o star who’s perfect for Rúben Amorim tipped for first-team

One of Manchester United’s 16-year-old stars has been tipped for a promotion under Rúben Amorim after fantastic performances in the academy.

Manchester United‘s academy is the club’s lifeblood. This is an indisputable fact that has been proven time and time again.

United have had an academy graduate in every matchday squad for the last 87 years, with the current mantel being carried by Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, and Kobbie Mainoo of late.

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Under Rúben Amorim, the side’s new head coach, the 39-year-old is expected to take a keen interest in the Academy, just as he has done at Casa Pia, Braga, and Sporting CP.

United’s academy have been flying recently, with the club’s U18s having won all nine of their U28 Premier League games so far this season, scoring 43 goals and conceding just four.

A first-team promotion

While many of that squad are well-known, such as Shea Lacey and Chido Obi-Martin, winger Bendito Mantato has scored six goals within the side this season and maybe more ready for a first-team call-up.

The Manchester Evening News have highlighted Mantato as one starlet who could eventually be promoted to the first-team Amorim.

The left-footed right winger, who started his Academy career as a left-back, has drawn comparisons to Arsenal star Bukayo Saka, and Amorim’s wing-back system could be perfectly suited to Mantato’s abilities.

The 16-year-old is quick and intense, and his dribbling is said to be a “huge asset”, all of which suit Amorim’s style perfectly.

Too young to start?

Mantato’s age puts him in the category of players who may be too young to start for the club, although Amorim has previously shown little fear in starting young players if needed.

One example is Geovany Quenda, the 17-year-old Sporting winger who has played 18 times under Amorim this season.

Quenda started against Manchester City as a right wing-back and was fantastic, leading many to point to him as a reference for Mantato in the coming seasons.

Although United currently have Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui as two players who could play the right wing-back role in the first team, Mantato is one to watch.

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