Balogun opens up on why he was not offered a scholarship deal by Man Utd 

Watford U21 star Hamzat Balogun has revealed the possible reason he was not offered a scholarship deal by Manchester United before joining the Hornets in 2021.

Balogun was on the books of Manchester United for close to a decade prior to his move to the Golden Boys on a two-year scholarship. 

The Anglo-Nigerian defender has suggested that he was not offered a scholarship by the Red Devils because he was recovering from injury. 

The talented teenager put that disappointment behind him after his transfer to the Hornets, turning in some standout performances for their youth teams. 

He starred against Chelsea in last season's FA Youth Cup and was on target  to help Watford U21s secure a 2-0 win over London Lions in the Herts Senior Challenge Cup this term.

"I’ve been kicking a ball about for as long as I can remember, and having been in Manchester United’s pre-academy from about the age of six or seven, I signed my first contract with them when I was nine," Balogun said to Watford's official website. 

"I was there until Under-16s, but then it was a bit of a rough time for me because I was out with a knee injury at the time they told me I wasn’t going to get a contract. 

"Because of the injury I had to wait a while before I could go on trial with other clubs, and there were times when I didn’t think I was going to get anything."

The 17-year-old continued : "I was just training by myself, trying to stay as fit as possible for whenever anything came in. Watford then gave me a good opportunity, and thankfully I took it.

"It was a lot of weight off my shoulders and relief for me and my family."

Balogun is aiming to follow in the footsteps of fellow Anglo-Nigerian Tobi Adeyemo who rose through the academy ranks before going on to make his league debut against Blackpool in January 2023.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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