Manchester United are set to lose out on a very talented young player, and may go on to regret it.
In the short-term, the loss of young talent Omari Forson is one that Manchester United can afford. It is not like Kobbie Mainoo has decided to walk away. The first team will not feel the impact of his exit.
Yet this still could be a decision which goes on to haunt the club, with Forson excelling at youth level prior to his decision to quit Manchester United.
Forson has made the choice to leave Old Trafford, and will sign a deal with Serie A side Monza, taking his talent to Italy.
Omari Forson has strong record
Omari Forson demonstrated his ability in Manchester United’s academy this past season by making an impact in nearly every game he played.
He featured in 10 matches at youth level in 2023/24, with 11 goal contributions, seven goals and four assists.
The 19-year-old was promoted to the first team by Erik ten Hag, who handed him his debut despite uncertainty over his expiring contract.
Forson played a total of 88 minutes for Manchester United. It was not enough to convince him stay, left out of the FA Cup Final matchday squad.
The teenager was still able to contribute an assist, supplying the pass for Kobbie Mainoo’s winner in the victory over Wolves.
When you combine Forson’s record across first team and academy football this past season, he averages a goal or assist every 76 minutes.
Forson made his Manchester United under-18s debut when he was just 15, and his under-21s debut at 16, scoring twice in a 6-2 win over Derby.
United have given him the chance to progress, and it is a disappointment he is choosing to continue his development elsewhere.
Forson faces challenge
There was a big task ahead to establish himself in the Manchester United first team, and to some end, Forson has ducked that challenge to take a shortcut to regular football.
That does not mean he will find it easy in Italy, adapting to a new style of football, new culture, and trying to live up to his potential.
It was not Manchester United’s decision to let Forson go, but he can still make the club regret losing him, and not doing more to tie him to a long-term extension earlier.
His talent and ability to impact games has shone through at youth level, and while he didn’t really grab the attention with his first team showings, you suspect it was only a matter of time before he began to do so, if given a sustained run.
In 2024, Forson’s exit is more an annoyance than a blow. By 2026, it could turn out to look like a very expensive miss, if he goes onto succeed at Monza and beyond.