Former Manchester United attacker Anthony Elanga has had a steady start to life at Newcastle United-
United career
The Swede joined United as a 12-year-old from Sweden.
He debuted as a 15-year-old for the under-18s against Liverpool in 2018.
Elanga made his first team debut in the 2020-2021 season and would end up playing 55 times for United, scoring four goals.
Career after United
The rapid Swede was surprisingly sold by Erik ten Hag in the summer of 2023 to Nottingham Forest.
He would really break out for the Tricky Trees, scoring 11 goals in 82 appearances.
Elanga sealed a big money move to Newcastle United in the summer and has so far played 10 times for the Magpies.
Mitchel van der Gaag praise
Former Manchester United assistant coach, Van der Gaag has given an interview praising the former United starlet.
Speaking to Blick the coach spoke glowingly of the winger.
Commenting on their time together he stated, “I got to know him as a young, eager-to-learn, and team-oriented player.”
He elaborated, Elanga “was always willing to listen to the coaches and improve. Anthony’s greatest strength is his pace, his speed. That sets him apart from other players.”
Van der Gaag was also insistent that Elanga is much more than a speed demon, however.
The Dutchman asserted, “he combines his speed very well with his technical skills. Since establishing himself in England, he’s played with the appropriate confidence.”
Surprising sale
With United’s then assistant such an obvious fan of the player, it begs the question why the young Swede was actually sold in the first place.
Whilst not playing a central role as he did under Ralf Rangnick, he still played 26 times for the Red Devils in his final year at the club in 2023 but was still moved on during that summer.
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.
