Sridhar Bhamidi
Manchester United have added five talented youngsters to their academy who were released by Huddersfield after they shut down their academy system. (The Sun)
The Terriers had announced earlier this month that they would be closing their academy and would allow their youngsters to join other clubs. Since it is a decision taken by the club, Huddersfield would not be liable for any compensation.
Huddersfield decided to reduce their academy from category two to category four status, which was a part of their decision to streamline their youth system. The Terriers’ chairman Dean Hoyle went ahead with the decision because it would cut down the costs incurred by the club.
This meant that the Premier League side halved the number of age-groups sides they run – which included shelving their Under-16 and Under-19 sides.
Following this decision, there was interest from Premier League sides as it is rare to sign academy prospects without any compensation to be paid.
There was a big clutch of players who were told that they would be free to search for a new club without any due compensation to Huddersfield. The Red Devils were the first to move off the blocks by offering trials to as many as 15 youngsters with a view of signing them for their Academy.
United were also quick to sign the players as they moved quickly to beat the rest of their Premier League rivals in snapping up these youngsters.
Manchester City, Liverpool, and Everton were also interested in signing up these youngsters but are now trying to catch the Red Devils who have taken a march.
Promising youngsters Rocco Fragapane and Raj Mahmood – both of whom are involved in the England Under-16 set-up are understood to be among the group of players who were invited for trials at Carrington.
The teenagers signed deals at Old Trafford this week after the trials which included friendlies behind closed doors. The new recruits have the option to carry their education in Yorkshire or could switch to Ashton-on-Mersey School which is a 10-minute drive from United’s Carrington training base.
It looks like United’s Academy recruitment under Nicky Butt has gathered the right momentum.
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