Manchester United are keeping a close eye on Anderlecht schoolboy, Eliot Matazo. Some sources are claiming that the Red Devils are monitoring the progress of the 15-year-old Belgian wonderkid after being highly recommended by their scouts in Belgium. It is understood that Jose Mourinho has stepped up his interest in the teenager, amid interest from a whole lot of European clubs.
A report in Netherlands has suggested that the Reds of Manchester have made contact with the representatives of Matazo through Romelu Lukaku’s family. The United forward grew up as a footballer playing for Anderlecht and still has close ties with the Belgian Pro League club.
Matazo is the skipper of the Anderlecht Under-16 team and the Belgian club are keen to offer him a new long-term deal. He will turn 16 in February 2018 when they hope to secure his signature on their academy forms. However, until then, he is free to talk to other clubs with the Belgian side only due to some compensation fees if he makes a switch elsewhere.
Manchester United and their rivals, Manchester City are the two Premier League clubs who are thought to be his biggest admirers but other European heavyweights have also joined the race to secure the youngster’s services, having sent their scouts to watch him in action.
It is being reported that Bundesliga giants, Borussia Dortmund have already shown interest and would be willing to recruit him and let him play in Germany when he leaves school in the near future. However, they also face competition from Schalke 04 and RB Leipzig who won’t give on the starlet without a fight. Ligue 1 side, Monaco are also keeping tabs on the progress of the defensive midfielder, but Manchester United are believed to be the frontrunners for his signature if he decides to leave Belgian football.
The Red Devils are known to give youth players a chance at their club. The emergence of Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard in Jose Mourinho’s starting eleven are prime examples of their intent to promote their academy players. Matozo has bags of potential and if the Red Devils are able to convince him to sign for them, he would have a great platform to develop and reach for the stars.
It remains to be seen whether the player chooses to stick with Anderlecht or take a risk and move to one of the bigger European clubs when he leaves school next year. But do you think he is a star worthy of playing at Old Trafford?
