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Manchester United’s Failed Wonderkids – Where Are They Now?

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From the formation of the ‘Busby Babes,’ to the legendary feat of the Class of 92, Manchester United has always been built off the promotion of youth, integrating them into first team stars.

From The Cliff, to Carrington, world class talents are always given a chance.

Utilising youth is in the very fabric of this famous club, deeply routed in its DNA.

Therefore, at United, nothing is worse than seeing a fabled ‘world class talent’ slowly fade away like a dying star.

Although it’s impossible to guarantee the success of a young talent, particularly in the modern era with the presence of social media and the likelihood of being subject to scrutiny online, watching someone so highly regarded never make it, will always disappoint.

Since the Class of 92, United haven’t excelled in the talent factory, rarely producing any world class players as a result.

Paul Pogba is an epitomisation of this downfall, as he is one of very few you could argue in recent years who have come from the United academy and gone onto be world class. Gerard Pique is another example of such.

However, what both former United players have in common, is how they significantly improved and excelled upon leaving the club.

Thus, in the last couple decades, United have failed to produce the world class talents of old.

Despite this, there’s been many young prospects who were destined for greatness, but just fell short of making it at the club.

This article will go through these players, and where their careers have gone.

James Wilson

james wilson
Egghead06, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Wilson joined United at just seven years of age before playing at United’s academy into his early twenties.

He rose up the ranks scoring five goals in six Uefa youth league games, before scoring seven in nine U21 Premier League games.

This form earnt him a chance in United’s first team.

Wilson did not disappoint scoring two on his debut against Hull in May 2014.

However, after failing to impress Louis van Gaal, Wilson was loaned out to Brighton in the championship.

Whilst playing for the Seagulls, the Englishman scored five goals and assisted twice in 25 league appearances.

The following season, Wilson was loaned out to Derby, but failed to have the desired impact featuring just five times for the rams.

By the 2017/18 season, Wilson was back at United playing in Premier League 2 again.

Another unsuccessful loan spell at Sheffield United saw Wilson join Aberdeen on loan before eventually leaving the red devils on a permanent free transfer to the Scottish side.

However, just six months later, Wilson joined Class of 92 ran Salford.

He stayed at Salford for 18 months before joining Port Vale who he currently plays for and may leave on a free transfer in the coming weeks.

Adnan Januzaj

adnan januzaj
Matt Janzer from Missoula, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Belgian was seen as a special and highly promising talent.

He joined United’s under 18’s in 2011 signing from Anderlecht.

Having worked his way up the ranks, Januzaj made his first team debut in the 2013/14 community shield.

In this season, the young winger featured 34 times for the first team, scoring four goals and assisting eight.

The following season, Januzaj continued to feature for the first team, but only played 21 times and didn’t score or assist.

Subsequently, Januzaj was given a chance on loan in Germany for Borussia Dortmund.

Dortmund were renowned for their use of youth and so many would have been hopeful that BVB would’ve been the place to kickstart the promising winger’s career.

However, just 11 appearances later and Januzaj had failed to make the impression desired. He was recalled back to United in January of 2016.

In 2016, upon returning back to Manchester, the Belgian winger made more appearances for the U21’s than the first team.

That summer, Januzaj was loaned out to Sunderland for a year.

After very little first team football in recent years, Januzaj got better minutes making 28 appearances for Sunderland’s first team, including one goal and three assists.

As a result, Januzaj earnt a eight and a half million euro permanent transfer to Real Sociedad in Spain.

This is where the talented winger has been able to kick on with his career featuring 168 times for the Spanish side, scoring 23 and assisting 21 over a five year span.

In the 2022 summer transfer window, Januzaj left Sociedad but stayed in Spain joining Sevilla on a free transfer.

However, Januzaj rarely featured and was loaned out to Turkey to play for his current side Istanbul Basaksehir. He’s played 17 times for the Turkish side but will return to Sevilla this summer.

Bebe

Bébé
Andrea Sartorati, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Bebe came into the spotlight in remarkable fashion having been in a homeless shelter and invited to play in a European street football competition to help young people get off the streets.

Ultimately, the Portuguese youngster was picked up by Estrela da Amadora, but left for Vitoria Guimaraes SC in January of 2010.

However, after just five weeks since signing for Victoria Guimaraes, Ferguson’s United snapped him up for £7m.

This reportedly came from a recommendation from Carlos Quieroz, a former assistant manager at United.

In 2021, Quieroz came out and denied any involvement in the transfer. He said: “I didn’t even know he existed.”

Bebe only made seven senior appearances for United before being shipped out to Besiktas on loan.

Similarly, the Portuguese only played four times for the Turkish club amounting to just 55 minutes on the pitch.

In January 2013, Bebe was loaned out to Rio Ave FC, making 19 appearances before returning to United in the summer.

Pacos Ferreira was yet another loan destination for the young forward. This lasted a year with Bebe scoring 14 goals and assisting two before United finally cut all ties with the Portuguese and sold him to Benfica for up-to £2.4m.

However, just six months later Bebe was loaned out to Spain to play for Cordoba FC.

The following summer, Bebe found himself out on loan again, but remaining in Spain playing for Rayo Vallecano.

In the summer of 2016, Benfica sold Bebe to SD Eibar.

18 months later, Bebe returned to Rayo Vallecano on loan. At the end of the loan, the Spanish side decided to buy the forward permanently.

Four and a half years later, in January 2023, Bebe was loaned out to Real Zaragoza.

The Portuguese forward has returned back to Rayo Vallecano and will wait to see whether he’ll be in their plans for next season.

Federico Macheda

Arriving from Lazio’s youth academy, Macheda was an instant hero. The Italian forward scored a Premier League title winning goal against Aston Villa cementing himself in United history on his debut at just 17.

However, after this, Macheda’s career at United stagnated and he was sent out on loan to Sampdoria in January 2011.

Twelve months after, Macheda was then loaned out to Queens Park Rangers.

For the third successive January transfer window, Macheda was loaned out. This time the Italian forward went to Germany to play for VfB Stuttgart.

18 appearances later, with no goal contributions and Macheda was back in Manchester.

Subsequently, Macheda took a loan to the Championship for Doncaster Rovers. This only spanned from September to December, before Birmingham snapped up the Italian on loan in January.

The super sub scored 10 goals and assisted once in 18 appearances for the midlands side.

The following summer, Macheda joined Cardiff City as an end of contract move.

Just under two years on from his signing for the Bluebirds, Macheda was loaned to Nottingham Forest in March 2016.

Two months later and only three appearances earnt, Macheda returned to South Wales.

Subequently, in August 2016, Cardiff terminated his contract with immediate effect.

Four months later, Novara, in the Italian second division picked Macheda up.

Macheda made 50 appearances for the Italian side scoring 11 goals before Greek side Panathinaikos picked him up on a free transfer.

In Greece, Macheda has thrived the most, earning 116 appearances scoring 40 goals and assisting 10.

Just under four years later, Macheda moved to Turkey to play for Ankaragucu. However, in January 2023, the Italian was loaned out to Cyprus to play for APOEL Nicosia.

Macheda is due to return to Ankaragucu on June 30th.

Anderson

wayne rooney and anderson
Gordon Flood, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Upon his expensive arrival with Nani at United, expectations and hopes were incredibly high for the Brazilian. Unfortunately, Anderson never hit the heights hoped of him.

Speaking on the UTD podcast, Ben Foster said: “Anderson…he could have been the best player in the world at one point, I promise you he could have.”

Ultimately, after 181 appearances at United spanning over seven years, Anderson left for Internacional in Brazil on a free transfer.

Before he left United, unlike the other potential wonderkids, Anderson only went out on loan once in his time at United, which was to Fiorentina for six months in January 2014.

Whilst at Internacional, Anderson was sent out on loan to Cortiba FC.

Following this loan, Anderson was released in January 2018.

In August 2018, Anderson was picked up by Adana Demirspor in Turkey.

He made 15 appearances before deciding to retire from football in September 2019.