Manchester United are reportedly scouting Russian starlet Mikhail Ignatov, which hasn’t come as a surprise for former Red Devils’ hero Andrei Kanchelskis.
Former Manchester United winger Andrei Kanchelskis has claimed that he is ‘not surprised’ by the Premier League club’s interest in Spartak Moscow’s 18-year-old attacking midfielder Mikhail Ignatov.
Ignatov started out at the academy of CSKA Moscow, but switched to the Spartak youth setup in 2015. And having broken into the Spartak first team at the start of the season, the Russian prodigy has been making all the right noises and has impressed with a string of promising displays.
The versatile attacking midfielder, who can play on either flanks or in the No.10 role, has made eight appearances in all competitions for the Russian capital club in the 2018-19 campaign so far, contributing a solitary goal.
Ignatov’s rapid rise hasn’t gone unnoticed, with Manchester United believed to be keeping an eye on the talented teenager. The Red Devils’ chief Eastern European scout, Krsto Kilibarda, was in attendance this past weekend when Spartak played out a 1-1 draw against Rubin Kazan, during which the 18-year-old made a strong impression.
And this development hasn’t surprised former Manchester United star Kanchelskis. The former Russian international, who spent four years at Old Trafford between 1991 and 1995, winning two Premier League titles and an FA Cup said (h/t Metro):
“Basically, I’m not surprised. This is probably possible. Scouts of Manchester United are watching many young, promising players. It is normal that this time they paid attention to a guy like Ignatov.”
However, the 49-year-old then went on to add that one good game wasn’t an indicator of the player’s abilities and Ignatov will need to play consistently at this level, if he is to attract serious interest from Manchester United.
“What else can I say about this situation? Never mind. One game is not an indicator! Stability is a sign of excellence. How many young talents did we have and did they immediately go out?
“If Ignatov will show his class throughout the season, then there will be food for thought. Maybe now someone recommended him to the Manchester United scout. But for the time being, it is of course too early to assert a substantive interest.”
Ignatov’s contract with Spartak Moscow runs till the summer of 2021. In his handful of first team appearances for the Russian heavyweights, the 18-year-old has given a very good account of himself, showing great promise and potential.
And while he seems to have caught the eye of Manchester United, any immediate move to Old Trafford is completely out of the question at the moment. However, if the Russian U-19 international continues to develop at this rate, the 20-time English champions might decide to intensify their interest in him sooner rather than later.