Manchester United Release Promising Nigerian Defender

Allnigeriasoccer.com has been informed that Manchester United have bid farewell to promising Nigerian youngster Michael Elechi ahead of next season.

The Red Devils higher-ups communicated to the central defender in December that he won't be offered a scholarship, thus ending his association with the club.

Born in 2001, Elechi was part of Manchester United U16s squad that traveled to Hong Kong last August for friendly matches against District All-Stars and the Hong Kong Football Association Academy U-17s.

Meanwhile, two Nigerian super kids who also traveled with the U16s to Asia, Mipo Odubeko and Deji Sotona, are presently in Germany preparing to take on Bayern Munich U16s in a mini-tournament.

Odubeko regularly plays for United's U16 team despite being classed as an U15 player, and he has been tipped to follow the same path as Mason Greenwood where he plays some games for U16s and some for U18s next season.

Hamzai Balogun and Maximilano Oyedele, who were both born in 2004, have featured for Manchester United U13s this season.

Balogun is a versatile defender who can play left back, right back and central defense, while Oyedele is a winger.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : academymanutd.com