There’s a lot to like about Manchester United at the moment. Of course, many more improvements are needed before Ruben Amorim’s project reaches the desired level, but recent results and, perhaps more importantly, performances suggest that the page may have been turned.
Amorim has continued to stick to his guns in the Old Trafford hot seat, but in return he has received more than his fair share of criticism and question marks. But is a prudent tactician about to be vindicated?
After a successful summer, first-team outcasts were removed and upgrades in Brian Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha arrived and they excelled under the theater lights.
Benjamin Sesco is a talented striker, but the jury is still out on his potential as a main player for years to come.
What Sesco has to prove at Manchester United
Sesco joined Man United this summer from RB Leipzig for a fee of £74m, ending their long search for a new striker.
So far, the 23-year-old has only registered two goals and one assist in 11 games, but his link-up play and presence in the area are promising.
Podcast host Adam Josef said the Slovenian was unable to capitalize on Mbeumo’s magic during Saturday’s hair-raising draw with Forest, pointing out that he “needed a better touch”. But this will come.
After all, Mbeumo and Cunha are experienced Premier League stars, while Sesco is even younger, only a few months into his career in English football.
Manchester United top scorer 25/26 (all matches) | ||
|---|---|---|
player | app | the goal |
Brian Mbeumo | 11 | 5 |
Casemiro | 9 | 3 |
Bruno Fernandes | 11 | 2 |
Benjamin Sesco | 11 | 2 |
harry maguire | 8 | 2 |
Dates via Transfermarkt | ||
We know he can score goals. But Man United’s best strikers of the modern era are proving they have more strings to their bow.
Take Robin van Persie, for example. The iconic centre-forward was praised by Sir Alex Ferguson for his “sensational” strike and for making “as big an impact as anyone” at Old Trafford after joining from Arsenal for £24m in 2012.
His movement and intelligence in the final third set him apart from the masses, and the tall, well-built Sesco was able to imitate the Dutchman in that regard.
But in reality, there may be an up-and-coming player in Carrington who has greater potential than the summer recruit.
Manchester United’s biggest striker talent since RVP
Last week, Amorim publicly acknowledged JJ Gabriel, admitting that he has been keeping an eye on the 15-year-old forward’s progress and has even given him the opportunity to train with the first team.
Hailed by talent scout Jacek Kulig as having an “extraordinary skillset” with “good flair and confidence on the ball”, Gabriel is still young in terms of his position and can play both on the left wing and in the batting center, but he has plenty to offer and could make his debut in the not-too-distant future.
Gabriel is already a regular in the U18 squad and has defied expectations with his incredible technical ability and agility on the ball. He is too good for the young players around him, with journalist Nathan Salt admitting that “some people think he is already better than most Premier League players”.
Correspondent Stephen Railstone even suggested that Gabriel was “the best talent United’s academy has ever seen”.
Sometimes you can just tell. Gabriel is a unique dribbler and is the top scorer in this season’s Under-18 Premier League, with seven goals (and one assist) in just eight games. Darren Fletcher has primarily used him in the middle despite being developed as a wide, but the young star’s prolific potential suggests this may be a wise decision.
Although he has not yet matured physically and has never tested himself on the senior stage, Gabriel has huge potential and there is no doubt that his ceiling is higher than Sesco’s.
Will the teenager become United’s best player since Van Persie? It’s too early to tell, but the signs so far are certainly more than promising.
