Youth player development is not a linear curve and it can be seen in many examples, with some highly-rated players failing to make it while some breakouts come out of nowhere.
Scott McTominay is a prime example of a player who was at the right place at the right time under the right manager.
He leveraged that opportunity into staying in the team since then while also establishing himself as a crucial international player.
The scenario hasn’t been that ideal for another academy player, one who joined the club amid huge noise and celebrations that United had landed a huge blow on their rivals by poaching him.
Charlie McNeill, the once-boy-wonder who plundered more than 600 goals at youth levels in various age groups and was signed from Manchester City, left United on July 1st upon the expiry of his contract.
McNeill is the subject of intense transfer interest
Understandably, such highly-rated players might not make it at United but it doesn’t mean they become bad overnight.
Therefore, there was always going to be heavy interest in his services once he became a free agent, as the potential is still there, waiting to be unlocked.
Manchester World reports that McNeill is attracting interest from Serie A sides, the Championship, and MLS for a potential free transfer.
The report states that Sheffield Wednesday are aiming to steal a march on their rivals as they are already in discussions with the player.
Lazio and Torino have registered their interest from Italy while LA Galaxy and Toronto FC are interested from the MLS.
At this stage, it is looking likely that Wednesday will win the race for his signature, and McNeill will become a first-team fixture immediately.
McNeill’s form needs to transfer to senior football
The fact that “600 goals at youth level” is still used to describe McNeill is concerning since he’s 20 years old now.
Despite his vast potential and an eye for the goal, the reality is that he has failed to translate this form whenever he has played senior football.
He scored 24 goals in 21 games for United U18s when he joined in the 2020/21 season but those numbers dried up when he was moved up an age group.
McNeill then looked completely outmatched against senior pros during his loan at Newport County, where he scored just twice in 20 league games.
A weirdly short loan spell at Stevenage followed where he played just 163 league minutes, scoring once and returning to play for United’s developmental squad.
It was a career that was drifting towards obscurity but his proven record at the academy level has led to teams willing to take a low-risk, high-reward bet on him.
Many have flourished away from the bright lights and scrutiny of Old Trafford and McNeill’s next team will be hoping his name will be another.