MANCHESTER United’s young Saka-like starlet Bendito Mantato has signed his first professional contract with the club.
Mantato, 17, was named on the bench for the first time last week as he travelled to Spain for the first leg of United’s Europa League semi-final against Athletic Bilbao.
He was also absent from Monday’s U21 squad to face West Ham to be instead part of the preparations for the second leg on Thursday night.
The teenager is so highly-rated that he has drawn comparisons with Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka with his dynamic left-footed play on the right wing.
His journey from wing-back to right wing mirrors the Arsenal star’s youth journey and makes him an attractive fit for Ruben Amorim’s side.
The United boss has experimented with wing-backs this season, using Patrick Dorgu and Diogo Dalot in the role.
But Mantato could be a valuable string to his bow with 14 goals and assists this season across U18 and U21 level.
It’s not just Amorim who can see the potential in the star as Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle and Brighton expressed interest in signing him last year, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Mantato has been hailed as a “versatile player with impressive size for his age and a strong technical base” by community football platform Planet Football and has gone viral on X for his skills.
Despite making his U18 debut aged 14 only last season, his senior debut could be on the horizon.
Amorim has already started to give youth a shot, fielding the club’s youngest ever starting XI in the Premier League against Brentford on Sunday with a 22 years and 270 days average age.
Chido Obi, 17, and Harry Amass, 18, both started among an additional five 20-year-olds.
After scoring the 99th minute winner against Arsenal in the February FA Youth Cup quarterfinals, Mantato will be a welcome addition to the senior side.
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