Manchester United have suffered a defeat in the pursuit of Yeboah Amankwah, who has signed for local rivals, Manchester City
Manchester Evening News have broken the story that United have suffered a defeat in the pursuit of exciting 16-year-old prospect, Yeboah Amankwah. The youngster, who was under trial at Manchester United and even featured for their Under-16 side, has now joined their cross-town rivals Manchester City.
Yeboah Amankwah is a 16-year-old defender who came through the Kinetic Foundation, which is based in London. The player was a part of the United squad that won the Premier League International’s Football for Freedom Trophy in October during his trial period.
Manchester United were hoping and even confident that Amankwah would end up signing a contract at the club. However, the news of him joining Manchester City as a scholar has now cropped up, which would come as a huge surprise and utter disappointment to the Red Devils.
Manchester United have upped their recruitment drive at youth levels several notches starting from the summer of 2016. The Red Devils recently raided City’s scouting department by poaching two of their most significant scouts in Dave Harrison and Lyndon Tomlinson.
Three months ago playing Sunday league now a @ManUtd U16 int prem cup champion @rioferdy5 #grassroots #southlondon pic.twitter.com/D2imUzi7dv
— Joe Shields (@Joe_Shields_) October 17, 2016
This may just be City’s way of getting back at their rivals for the aforementioned poaching. Citizens’ youth scouting manager Joe Shields even tweeted a picture of Amankwah in his Red Devils’ kit from two months ago and even tagged United legend Rio Ferdinand in it, which is supposedly a jibe.
Manchester United’s youth teams have been absolutely battered by City’s youth teams in Manchester derbies in the recent past, which does not bode well for a club like Manchester United, that pride themselves on the quality of the youth coming through the ranks.
The two clubs have been at loggerheads at every facet of the footballing world and it seems like it is the blue half of Manchester that is running at a premium, on the Premier League table and otherwise. With the arrival of Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola at the respective helms, the battle is more vicious than ever.
The world will be watching to see who gains the upper hand.
