Manchester United: 5 academy graduates who will shine in 2020/21

4. Aliou Badara Traore

Age: 19

Position: Central midfielder

Nation: France

Touted as “the next Paul pogba” at Manchester United, Aliou Badara Traore has already impressed his spectators with his physical attributes and game reading ability, having made around 50 appearances in total for United’s youth teams since making his move to the Manchester-based club from Paris Saint-Germain in 2017.

The most impressive aspect of Traore’s game is his bulky physical presence and his tendency to bully opponents at the heart of midfield. Then aged 17, Traore played his first game for United’s U18 side against Wolves’ youth side — a game where United ultimately faced a shock defeat to their Wolverhampton oppositions.

In the 2019-20 campaign, Traore amassed four goals while appearing on just 16 occasions. With Traore’s current contract with the club set to run out in June 2021, a host of European suitors in Benfica, Celtic, and Rangers are looking to land the midfield prospect.

But there is nothing much to worry about for Manchester United and Aliou Traore devotees, as he, who has already proved his traits on the field, is one of those candidates leading the line to make a cut in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s next season’s cup team.

Manchester United have recently struggled with the lack of physicality in midfield. And Solskjaer would love to add some cover to the area going forward — especially if the prodigy is from United’s reputed academy and is ready to step up.

Traore is mentally ready. And should he keep doing what he has done since moving to Manchester and stay away from injuries, nothing but a bright future at the “Theater of Dreams” is ahead of the starlet.