Manchester United’s decision to part ways with Maxi Oyedele left several of his teammates surprised.
Despite his underwhelming loan spell at then-League Two side Forest Green Rovers, Oyedele was one of the most talked about United academy talents heading into the summer of 2024.
Known for his creative instincts and tenacious style of play out of possession, the midfielder, who was part of the FA Youth Cup winning squad in 2022, managed to push his way into Erik ten Hag’s pre-season plans.
The hype surrounding his potential only intensified after he set up Joe Hugill’s goal against Rangers early in pre-season and earned a place in the tour squad to the USA.
However, two weeks after featuring against Liverpool early in August, the 20-year-old Salford-born talent was surprisingly sold to Legia Warsaw on a permanent transfer.
Shining light on his surprise exit from his boyhood club, Oyedele told SportBible: “I remember coming in and my teammates couldn’t believe I was going. They were like, ‘What do you mean?’”
“I’d been there for so long. I went on trial at the age of six. I’d been there all my life and it was the only club I’d known. It was weird knowing that I wouldn’t be back to train in the morning.”
However, the move to Poland has so far proven to be promising for the former United midfielder. His impressive performances for Legia led to his first call-up to the senior Poland squad.
Oyedele was so excited after receiving the call-up that he immediately called his ex-teammates Kobbie Mainoo and Hannibal Mejbri, who is now at Burnley.
He recalled: “I started calling everybody but nobody was picking up. Both of my parents and my agent didn’t answer. And then I called my friends. Kobbie [Mainoo] and Hannibal. Both of them said, ‘No way!’”
During October’s international break, Oyedele faced his former captain Bruno Fernandes in the Nations League.
Portugal beat Poland 3-1, but after the game, Fernandes took to social media to praise the academy graduate, stating he deserves “all the best.”
Vishal Singh
Vishal has covered football for over five years. Currently a writer at The Peoples Person. Big fan of ball-playing center-backs!
