Amir Ibragimov has caught the eye in Man Utd’s Under-18s team (Image: Getty)
MMA star Ibragim Ibragimov claims that his brother Amir is ready for the first team and will be better than . The younger Ibragimov sibling is one of the most highly-rated members of the Red Devils academy.
The 16-year-old forward has played for England at Under-16 level and continues to thrive in the youth ranks at Carrington. He has played alongside Rooney’s son Kai.
United have a history of bringing through talented young players and mixed martial artist Ibragimov believes his brother could be the best of the lot. The 23-year-old is desperate for to pick his sibling, while there are two other Ibragimovs in younger age groups in the academy.
He told : “My brother is the next big thing, I’ve already said that to everybody. He’s ready for the first-team, he just needs the chance. Once he gets the chance, Inshallah he will make it, 100 per cent this year.
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“They are comparing him to Wayne Rooney, so he’s going to be the next Wayne Rooney. A better version than Wayne Rooney.”
Amorim has turned to a couple of United’s teenagers despite an extremely tough start to life at Old Trafford. Kobbie Mainoo has continued to be a regular in the first team having broken through under .
Midfielder Toby Collyer, 21, has won the trust of Amorim. He was introduced in the second half of United’s FA Cup victory over and last week featured from the bench against Brighton, the team from which he signed for the Red Devils’ academy.
Amorim praised Collyer’s energy levels after the cup triumph, an important attribute to possess in the Portuguese coach’s high-pressing 3-4-2-1 system.
Ruben Amorim has been urged to turn to a 16-year-old Man Utd sensation (Image: Getty)
The highly-rated 16-year-old Godwill Kukonki has also been named on the bench on three occasions this season – all under Amorim. The defender will hope to make his senior bow in the near future.
Two academy graduates have been linked with an exit from Old Trafford, though. Marcus Rashford is widely expected to leave United, either this month or in the summer. Several clubs have been linked with the exiled England international, who has been involved in one matchday squad in United’s last 10 games.
Meanwhile, speculation surrounding Alejandro Garnacho’s future has been rife. The forward has struggled to fit into Amorim’s system and could be reluctantly sold to raise funds for new signings.