UNITED SPECIAL Fergie thought he had signed Ampadu
SIR Alex Ferguson was convinced United were on the brink of signing Ethan Ampadu when the Wales international was only 12.
The M.E.N. understands Fergie spotted the Chelsea midfielder, who turns 18 today, when Exeter Under-13s travelled to United in 2013 for a junior tournament. He was so impressed by the youngster he lobbied United’s thenchief executive David Gill to conclude a deal for Ampadu.
Ferguson is believed to have dubbed Ampadu a ‘proper United player’, but the Reds’ botched handover that summer meant Ampadu slipped through the net. Ferguson and Gill stepped down as David Moyes and Ed Woodward came in and presided over a desperate transfer window.
The United academy is resurgent again and Nicky Butt has overseen an aggressive recruitment drive since he replaced Brian McClair two-and-a-half years ago, with Tahith Chong, Lee O’Connor, Aliou Traore and Arnau Puigmal among the high-profile overseas recruits.
Ampadu became Exeter’s youngest player in August 2016 and made his Football League debut as a starter against Crawley the following week. Chelsea signed Ampadu last year and he made his Premier League bow in the December win at Huddersfield Town.
Exeter-born Ampadu made his Wales debut aged 17 last year and Ryan Giggs gave him his competitive bow in last week’s 4-1 Nations League stroll against the Republic of Ireland.
Former Wales coach Chris Coleman compared Ampadu to Rio Ferdinand. NUMBERS drain the life out of football like a vampire.
At least goalscorers are judged on scoring goals. Romelu Lukaku has 43 in 77 for Belgium and is their record marksman at the age of 25.
He netted two more in Iceland on Tuesday night and since his £75m transfer to United, his prolific international record reads 17 games and 20 goals.
Lukaku is a natural goal-getter, instincts he developed during an impoverished childhood which included a raw diet of bread and milk. He used to return home from school to find his mother crying and, aged 12, scored 76 times in 34 matches – wearing his father’s shoes.
It’s some going. Lukaku has played for the highest-ever ranked Belgium side and was their figurehead in the country’s best-performing World Cup in Russia. Against Burnley, he swept in his 30th United goal in 55 matches and should reach a half century between now and May. Andy Cole and Dimitar Berbatov did not hit that mark until they were two years into their Old Trafford careers.
Lukaku has also registered more often in the Premier League than his idol Didier Drogba. Drogba is a useful comparison in another area – silverware.
He is up there with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as this century’s best big-game performers. Drogba struck three FA Cup final winners, a League Cup final winner, levelled in the Champions League final and converted the decisive penalty.
There were Golden Boots in a season Ronaldo received the PFA Player of the Year award and with Chelsea’s 2009-10 double winners who plundered 103 league goals.
The club opponents Lukaku has scored against this calendar year are Burnley, Brighton, Bournemouth, Swansea, Sevilla, Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Huddersfield, Yeovil, Stoke and Derby.