When people look at footballing bedrocks for producing talent, they usually turn their attention toward South America, Holland, Germany, and other countries with a pedigree (for the successful production of football players).
The Premier League has benefited from multicultural immigration from other countries for decades now, John Barnes and Viv Anderson being key examples of this
One continent that has become a hotbed for talent is indeed Africa. Africa has a population of 1.216 billion. A part of the world that has produced Yaya Toure, Jay-Jay Okocha, Michael Essien, and Patrick Vieira. Many people often forget to cite the growing influence of Africans in football.
The French football team that won the World Cup in 2018 had a substantial African influence due to its history with Africa. -The ‘98 french world cup winning side had a strong African influence also.
Athletes and sport stars born in France but still maintain that African influence from mom and dad are now part of every French football team and academy.
The UK has followed a similar pattern with its immigration of Africans (Ghanian, Somalians, Zimbabwe, Nigerians, Caribbeans, West Indians, Jamaicans. Trinidadians and Tobagonians
Until the late 1980s, total migration was around 5,000 a year. The total reached 20,000) in the 1990s.
The number of migrants increased rapidly at the turn of the century and remained around 30,000) per year during this decade.
Many footballing academies across the Premier League and Europe have benefited from the African and Caribbean men and women settling down to start a family.
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) is the son of two Nigerian parents. Joe Gomez (Liverpool) plays for England but is of Gambian descent, and the likes of Tammy Abraham (Chelsea) is an England international but is of Nigeria descent and Raheem Sterling (Jamaican descent) are examples of this.
Manchester United spend millions on transfer fees every year and break records. Jadon Sancho, Declan Rice, Jack Grealish are all premium level buys. However, the club could act smarter in the market, and this could be found closer to home at the club’s training facilities in Carrington.
Manchester United could save millions with two players of African heritage already in their academy.
- Shola Shoretire
Born in Newcastle, with Nigerian ancestry courtesy of his father. Shoretire spent his early childhood in the North East and played for esteemed Wallsend Boys Club – following (in the footsteps of) Peter Beardsley, Alan Shearer, Michael Carrick, and Lee Clark to name a few.
United quickly recognized his talents, snapping him up at the age of 10, where he has since shone through the age groups above his age.
Shola Shoretire’s name first hit several headlines in 2018 when he became the youngest ever player to appear in the UEFA Youth League, coming off the bench against Valencia as a 14-year-old.
Born two days before Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook, Shoretire was coming up against footballers five years his senior.
Shoretire recently turned 17 on the 2nd of February this year and has looked comfortable in Neil Woods U23’s Manchester side despite being 16 years of age a month ago.
Shoretire has managed five goals and three assists in 13 appearances in the Premier League 2. He also scored a (hat-trick) against (PL 2) then leaders Blackburn last week and has now signed his first professional contract with Manchester United. Shoretire’s rise in football has kicked into gear these last two years.
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Manchester United have convinced Shoretire to sign a deal despite advances from a host of European giants like Barcelona, Bayern Munich, PSG, and Juventus.
Shoretire has sought the advice of Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, and Michael Owen over his future and was convinced to stay at United.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær brought Shola Shoretire into Manchester United first-team training on Sunday, and he is said to remain there while he continues to improve.
He can play (the number nine or 10 roles), while also on the left and right and adds versatility to the United u23s side. A player who loves a tackle can also mix it up as shown with Hannibal Mejbri in the 6-3 demolition of Blackburn.
Shoretire can play for Nigeria or England, and it could be another headache for the England manager in the future.
- Hannibal Mejbri
Born in Paris in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, France. Hannibal Mejbri is the youngest of four children to Tunisian parents.
Turning heads in Ile-de-France at the age of nine-year, his talent was clear for all to see. Mejbri had been identified as the biggest talent of his generation since he was young and has gone through the INF Clairefontaine pre-academy like Kylian Mbappe and Thierry Henry before him.
The young midfielder can be seen a mile away with his sideshow Bob haircut. Barcelona, Liverpool, and Manchester City all wanted him, but United had signed Mjberi from Monaco for £9 million.
According to The Athletic, Mejbri routinely ‘takes the piss’ in training sessions with the under-23s. He has been widely tipped to make his breakthrough into the Manchester United first team.
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Hannibal Mejbri can play attacking mid and center midfield. He has managed three goals and four assists in 13 appearances at the PL 2 level while also featuring for the U-21s in the EFL Trophy.
The most memorable moment was when Leeds played United in the FA Youth Cup.
Leeds United’s fans aired a chant likening him to a Simpsons‘ character during the Old Trafford tie. Visiting supporters chanted ‘you’re just a s*** Sideshow Bob‘ as United recorded a 1-0 win. – When was this?
If you watch Hannibal for the u23’s, you’ll compare him to Aston Villa talisman Jack Grealish, not because they look alike or anything similar. The young Parisian draws foul after foul in games and is chopped continuously down due to his dribbling ability.
He is tenacious but has the quality to back it up. He can pass, tackle, and dribble. Hannibal like Shoretire has been called up to Solskjaer’s first team, and both could give Ole a selection headache if they continue the upward trajectory they are on.
