United beat Blues to sign promising Polish teen
UNITED have completed the signing of Polish teenager Lukasz Bejger.
The M.E.N. revealed in March the Reds had beaten City to sign the 16-year-old defender, who had a trial at Old Trafford in August last year.
Bejger was not included in United’s academy intake last month as they awaited clearance to complete his move from Lech Poznan. United initially agreed the deal for Bejger in January.
Poland Under-16 international Bejger made his youth debut for the national team against Scotland in September and captained the U16s against Moldova earlier this year. Bejger is primarily a centre-back but can also play at right-back.
Slovakian teenager Martin Svidersky, 15, was also unveiled by United at their Carrington training complex in April.
United fought off competition from Chelsea for Svidersky.
In September, United added Piotr Sadowski – who was previously attached to Lech Poznan – to their European scouting network and Bejger will hope to become the first outfield Polish player to represent the United first-team.
Old Trafford academy head Nicky Butt has overseen an aggressive recruitment drive over the last two years in an effort revitalise the club’s youth set-up, which was left in a state of flux following Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement. LOUIS van Gaal famously described him as his ‘gift’ to his United successor.
Jose Mourinho has rarely looked like a grateful recipient where Anthony Martial is concerned.
Few players illicit such ferocious support from United fans. And the belief that he could yet develop into one of the best players in the world extends from the terraces to the boardroom.
Judging by the social media reaction to the saga over the 22-yearold’s future a significant and vocal section of supporters are utterly opposed to cutting him adrift this summer.
That opinion is shared by executive vice chairman Ed Woodward and it is his determination to trigger a 12-month extension of Martial’s contract that proved the catalyst to what has been a remarkable couple of weeks that has seen the forward dominate the agenda during a troubled tour of the US.
Mourinho’s misgivings have been apparent long before Martial’s agent revealed he wanted to leave Old Trafford in June.
On that issue manager and player find themselves in agreement of an argument which pitches them on the opposite side to Woodward.
Martial thinks he needs to rebuild his career elsewhere and Mourinho is happy to let him go.
Woodward, on the other hand, fears the Frenchman could be the next Mo Salah or Kevin de Bruyne, who were coincidentally sold on by Mourinho at Chelsea.
But the Salah and De Bruyne comparisons are something of a red herring.
Woodward – and others within the club – are convinced Martial is a rare talent in his own right.
And it is notable the type of suitors he has attracted in Chelsea, Tottenham, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Paris St Germain and even Real Madrid – clubs of the highest echelon in Europe. It all leads to an increasingly complicated scenario, which seems certain to result in an unsatisfactory conclusion one way or another.
Should he stay, United fans will be happy – but that will soon turn to disquiet if he faces another season on the fringes. Woodward, too, will have got his way – but the businessman in him will recognise the danger of Martial’s valuation falling if Mourinho continues to overlook him. Mourinho, meanwhile, is left with a player he no longer sees as part of his plans – and Martial may be the most disappointed of all. Should the Frenchman go, then United run the risk of being embarrassed if realises his potential elsewhere. And Gareth Bale aside, supporters have been particularly underwhelmed by his potential replacements – be it Willian, Ivan Perisic or Ante Rebic. Mourinho, himself, runs the risk of seeing another of his ‘rejects’ flourish and the natural backlash that would provoke. That he is still willing to take that risk is evidence of his lack of faith in the player. But selling him on could be his most contentious act at United. The events on tour have helped James Robson