Manchester

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Having broken records at youth level for Arsenal, it is understandable why Manchester United fans should be "very excited" by teenage talent Chido Obi-Martin.

Scoring 32 goals in 18 Under-18 Premier League games is a spectacular feat, but being able to carry that on? That was the question for 16-year-old Obi-Martin.

But that is exactly what he is doing having already scored four goals in four games since joining the Red Devils' academy in October.

Having had such a successful season last campaign with Arsenal, however, just how have United managed to secure the young talent's services?

"There was a lot of speculation about his future," Jeorge Bird, from Jeorge Bird's Arsenal Youth, external blog, told BBC Sport.

"Arsenal reportedly offered him a scholarship contract and a professional deal, but I think he just decided that Manchester United is a better opportunity in terms of his development.

"The situation went on for quite a long time but now he has finally signed for United and is playing really well. It could prove to be a good decision for him in the end."

It is not just in academy football that Obi-Martin has caught attention, but on the international stage too.

Eligible to play for Denmark, England and Nigeria, he has spent much of his time at Danish youth levels - scoring 12 goals in 19 games for the under-17s - and was nominated for Uefa's Team of the Tournament at the U17 European Championship in the summer.

So how excited should United fans be by having the youngster among their academy players? "Very," Bird said. "But they might have to be a little bit patient as well.

"He needs to play more for the under-21s first. If he played about 10 games at that level, then he might be ready for the first team.

"Even right now, he could do well as a substitute in cup games, but they will have to show a little bit of patience with him. Next season is more likely to be the time when he is pushing for first-team involvement, but he definitely has a lot of potential."

With current first-team strikers not really firing, incoming boss Ruben Amorim may not have to look too far for a potential answer to that in the future.

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Aged 16; 6ft2in; 32 goals in 18 games.

Those are just some of the numbers behind 'wonderkid' Chido Obi-Martin, who joined Manchester United's academy in October.

Born in Denmark, the young striker has been causing a stir on social media over the past 12 months after he racked up incredible goalscoring numbers during his 2023-24 season in the Arsenal youth teams.

"He is a really talented player," Jeorge Bird, from Jeorge Bird's Arsenal Youth, external blog, told BBC Sport.

"I watched him quite a few times for the Arsenal academy teams last season and he scored 32 goals for the under-18s, which was a record at that level for the club."

Memorably, Obi-Martin netted 10 times in one game - against Liverpool in a 14-3 win for the under-16s - while he also went on a nine-game scoring streak in the Under-18 Premier League.

"It is outrageous to score that many goals at that level," Bird added.

"You normally get one or two players every few years who score quite a few goals, but no-one normally scores that many.

"At the beginning of the season he wasn't actually scoring that many goals but he just suddenly started to score and was playing with a lot of confidence.

"The way the Arsenal team played last season really suited how he played, which helps, but he just got into the right positions all the time. He knew where to run and was playing with so much confidence.

"This season, Arsenal have found it a bit difficult without him and that shows how well he did."

At over 6ft tall, the soon to be 17-year-old has made his presence felt in more ways than one and Bird feels this has been a benefit to him.

"Some people say he has a major advantage to those around him because he is so tall compared with other players at that level," he said.

"It will be interesting to see when he plays against senior players whether he can still be as prolific, but he has really good qualities.

"He can control the ball really well, he is quite quick and can get into good spaces. He is going to be a really good player but it will interesting to see how he does at a higher level."

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If Ruben Amorim had gone straight into Manchester United off the back of Erik ten Hag's sacking, I would have given him different priorities on his to-do list than what he has now.

After Ruud van Nistelrooy's four games in charge, it is a different conversation with the players. Their confidence is already higher - you can see that in the performances - and that would have been something he would have looked at early on.

One of his first priorities now will be getting to know the players. When a manager first comes in, you can change who you are as a player a little bit in those first few weeks. You want to impress and players and managers are working each other out. But he will know the ones trying to pull the wool over his eyes and the players will know that with him. You must build those relationships early.

Amorim needs to identify the areas of development that these players need, individually and collectively. Have those conversations and find out how players are feeling given the pressure they have been under with results.

However, trying to understand players in a short space of time is difficult and he will be learning about them on the job.

The international break provides an added challenge, particularly with the style of play Amorim has.

For players, the training sessions at clubs during this time are a lot shorter. It is less tactical and more focused on individual stuff so Amorim will not be able to get a lot of his philosophy and ideas across to players.

Manchester United is a massive club and what this does is give the new boss time to see what the place is about.

He will have more time to do that coming in during an international break than he would have done if he came in with back-to-back games straight away.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Image source, Getty Images

Ruben Amorim says he does not "feel the weight" of being the new Manchester United head coach.

The 39-year-old began his new role on Monday and has been spending time at the training ground getting to know the club, staff and some players during the international break.

He picks up the reins after interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy's short spell came to an end, with the Dutchman bringing some much-needed wins during his four games.

With an impressive CV from his time managing in Portugal, there will be expectation on the former Sporting boss to bring success to Old Trafford.

"You watch on TV and you know that it's big and it's impressive - but when you are here, you can feel it and I think you feel the history," Amorim said in an interview with club media.

"I'm really, really proud to be a Manchester United coach, so it's amazing. It's a real honour to be here."

When told by the interviewer there is a "weight to the place but it does lift you up", the Portuguese added: "That's really funny because I feel very relaxed.

"Maybe because it’s not gameday. When we have a game I'm a different guy, but I really don't feel the weight.

"I'm really excited and I'm quite relaxed. I think I am where I am supposed to be. That's the feeling."

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What can Manchester United fans expect from their new head coach?

BBC World Service has dropped a special Sportsworld podcast to find out more about Ruben Amorim from those who know him best - from his childhood friends to his former colleagues and players.

So who is the former Braga and Sporting manager, what things make him tick, and what could the new era at Old Trafford look like?

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Ruud van Nistelrooy says Manchester United will "always have a special place in my heart" and has wished them "many more glory days at Old Trafford" after leaving the club.

The former striker had been in interim charge following the sacking of Erik ten Hag in October.

After new boss Ruben Amorim officially took over on Monday, it was confirmed Van Nistelrooy would be leaving his coaching role, having joined Ten Hag's backroom staff in the summer.

During his four matches in charge, the Dutchman oversaw three wins and one draw, including the side's first victory in the Champions League this season.

In a message posted on X, external, Van Nistelrooy said: "To everyone at Manchester United Football Club, in particular the backroom staff, the players and the fans, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your incredible efforts and support.

"It has been a privilege and honour to represent the club as a player, coach and manager, and I will always cherish the memories we have shared together.

"Manchester United will always have a special place in my heart, and I hope there are many more glory days at Old Trafford very soon - not only because I want the club to do well, but because you all deserve it!

"All the best and take care, Ruud."

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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A big moment of immaturity came from Alejandro Garnacho at Old Trafford last weekend. He scored a "banger" - as it is now officially named - but deigned it beneath him to celebrate, as some Manchester United fans have been questioning his input lately.

Clearly he feels he isn't being respected enough for his seven Premier League assists in the past three seasons - his primary job in that position.

Usually, when a young player demands respect, the best course of action is to get rid of the self-important starlet as soon as possible, or at least drop them as a reality check.

In this case, he is still very young and he just needs the skipper - well said Bruno Fernandes post-match - and the new manager to have a sensible word.

And by all means don't celebrate, Alejandro - as long as you continue to deliver more regularly.

A player should never forget that it does come across a bit self-obsessed if he can't share the joy with the fans, who have paid a lot of money to see him.

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Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

In top-flight football, teams have to make sure they don't age too much together, because when the fall comes, it can be precipitous.

‌Manchester City look threadbare, but they also have an ageing core group. I picked what I think is the best City 11 with all players being fit and available, and an average age of 29.5 years popped out.

This may sound perfect, but the likes of Phil Foden and Erling Haaland pulled that average down considerably.

There are also questions over finances. When some of those great older players move on, it will free up a chunk of the wage bill, but you have to be spending that money wisely.

‌City have been good at buying the best lately. Haaland and Josko Gvardiol were impossible not to spot so not that clever, but what about spending £100m on Jack Grealish. He is a seriously talented footballer, but when you look at what a player who cost that much should be contributing, the numbers are way off for a top-class creative forward.

In terms of combined Premier League goals and assists, it is well below contributing roughly one in every three games. Contrast that with Kevin de Bruyne and Mohamed Salah - or even David Silva, who he partially replaced.

More concerning, his numbers are nowhere near as good as Cole Palmer since he left to join a club who should have been much harder to create and score for.

If City have lost their mojo in the acquisitions department, that is much worse than losing four games in a row.

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Manchester United and Liverpool are monitoring 27-year-old Fulham and USA left-back Antonee Robinson. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Maybe it is time to rethink how squads are built. Can Manchester City and, to a lesser extent, Arsenal still afford to be so top heavy with mega-huge earners?

When the superstars are injured, or off form, or just plain knackered, or - whisper it - just getting a little older, it leaves a very unbalanced looking group.

Their replacements aren't at nearly the same standard. More worryingly for the bean counters, they have lost the art of finding inexpensive rough diamonds and being able to polish them.

Other Premier League clubs have no sympathy for the stuttering giants. They understood they had to cut their cloth to suit their means.

So Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford, Fulham and others might not have the superstars, but they have balance. They typically have at least two players of similar ability for most positions.

That means you can cope with the injuries without the standard dropping too far. There are few irreplaceable stars.

In contrast, City without Rodri and Kevin de Bruyne, and Arsenal without Martin Odegaard, suddenly look a lot less invincible.

‌Maybe this is the biggest point about both sides' wobbles. They suddenly don't look invincible.

It will only take another couple of questionable performances and the vultures will be circling.

It is vicious, but in football there is nothing sweeter than feasting on a once-great beast that suddenly appears vulnerable.

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