During the summers, a new name emerged on the United U-18 squad list but made headlines across the media for his transfer from Arsenal to Manchester United. The young 17 year old was Danish striker Chido Obi Martin or rather Chido Obi now after he got his name changed. The Danish striker quickly proved his immense talents and price tag with solid performances for the U-18s, becoming an intriguing prospect for Manchester United. He continues his rich form this season with the latest being a hattrick against Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup. His exploits in the youth setup have set fans and pundits talking about the possibility of him making an early breakthrough into the first team, especially given United’s current struggles up front.
Head coach Ruben Amorim has been keeping a cautious eye on the youngster. When questioned about the potential promotion ahead of the Tottenham clash on Sunday, Amorim was measured in his response. “I don’t want to say names. We have to be careful on that,” he said, adding that young talents have been brought into training as part of a broader evaluation process. He continued to add about Chido, “We have problems this week, and we’re looking at all options. He is one of them”. Though United is lacking firepower upfront, Amorim will be cautious about elevating the youngster to the first team despite his rich form with the U-18s.
Though Chido’s role remains confined to the Youth ranks as of now, the exposure and experience of training with the first team will be immense for his development. Despite Amorim struggling with goals upfront, the atmosphere at United is one of cautious optimism with Chido Obi. For now, he enjoys a brilliant campaign with the Youth teams where he has amassed 41 career goals including his time at Arsenal.
Obi Martin’s journey is just beginning, and his rapid progress suggests only his immense potential. It might not be long before he’s given a taste of first team action but for now, his development will be important. It is still to be seen if Amorim puts him into the squad ahead of Sunday’s clash but his confidence will get a massive boost and a recognition for his attacking contributions this season. The young striker’s development will be one to watch closely, both for his individual brilliance and for the potential impact he could have on the club’s attacking options.