Shola Shoretire is about to make a free transfer to Greek champions PAOK.
The 20-year-old, who joined the Red Devils’ academy in 2013, has decided to leave Old Trafford after having little opportunity to play for the first team.
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In February 2021, he made United history with his appearance against Real Sociedad in the Europa League. At just 17 years and 23 days old, he became the club’s youngest player to ever appear in Europe – a record that still stands three years later.
But this appearance was only one of five games that Shoretire played for the senior team, as coach Erik ten Hag held him out of action.
His last appearance for United came on the final day of the 2021/22 season against Crystal Palace.
In the two seasons that Ten Hag was in charge at Old Trafford, Shoretire was on the bench for just one top-flight match.
Shoretire was once courted by Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain, but he turned down interest from abroad and signed a new contract with the Theatre of Dreams in 2021.
But Shoretire, who was loaned to Bolton for the second half of the 2022/23 season, will now finally be able to prove himself abroad.
He will join PAOK, who beat AEK Athens and Olympiacos Piraeus last season to win their second league title in five years.
A video has emerged on social media showing the young player landing in Greece, where he was serenaded by PAOK fans at the airport.
And Shoretire will be keen to showcase his talent in the Super League, where he says fans can expect a similar style to that of Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho.
Speaking to United’s website in 2021, Shoretire revealed that he modelled his game on the Barcelona legends.
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He said: “The people I looked up to were my favourite players Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho.
“I think I tried to adapt my game to hers, quite technical and a good all-round player.”
Shoretire will be only the fourth Englishman to play for PAOK, following Chuba Akpom, Mike Small and The Pitch Prospect’s Micky Quinn.
And he will try to emulate Akpom’s success with the club. The current Ajax Amsterdam striker won the league and cup double in his first season.
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