Manchester United’s academy is full to the brim with talented prospects, with Amir Ibragimov being among the best.
For Manchester United, the link between the first team and the academy is undisputable with such a rich history.
The club has a long line of academy graduates who have gone on to become star players in the senior squad – and under Erik ten Hag it is been no different.
Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo have both been masterful for Ten Hag and they both quickly became established as key players.
Harry Amass has been looking to join that list during pre-season – but now first-team training has re-commenced at Carrington and teenage sensation Amir Ibragimov is involved.
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Amir Ibragimov in first-team training for Manchester United
In the entire academy system, there are only a handful of players seen as even close to the talent of Ibragimov and clearly Ten Hag feels the same way.
This is evident in the week building up to the Community Shield, now the 16-year-old has been spotted in first-team training for United along with the likes of Mainoo and Garnacho.
Amir Ibragimov joined the small group of first team players for training along with several other academy players
u18s & u21s football + keeping fit the aims this season pic.twitter.com/YNbeVuWJFC
— academyarena Utd (@academyarenaUTD) August 6, 2024
There may have been concerns over Ibragimov’s fitness as he has not been involved in various academy tournaments to which United have sent squads.
But perhaps that is because Ten Hag has bigger plans for the Dagestan-born England U16 wonderkid.
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Why has Ibragimov been in senior training?
Ibragimov has been in senior training before – particularly all the way back in April 2023 when he was just 15.
He is a superb talent, and Ten Hag is believed to already be excited about his potential so it makes sense he is taking a closer look at the Wayne Rooney-likened star.
It however does seem like he will just be in training to bolster numbers for now, alongside the recently returned group.
For Ibragimov, this season must be about keeping fit primarily and impressing at the U18 and U21 levels, while we also imagine he will be in first-team training at times too – perhaps he will even be brought on tour next summer if all goes well.
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