Victor Lindelof sends a message to 19-year-old Man Utd youngstar says he has a ‘great future ahead of him’ at Manchester United, not Garnacho
Manchester United have got some fine young talent coursing through their ranks.
The likes of Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund have all massively impressed Erik ten Hag throughout the 23/24 season.
But United have so much more talent that is set to break through in the coming years. The academy is bustling with hungry players – so the future is definitely bright.
One of these players is Willy Kambwala, whom fellow centre-half Victor Lindelof is a big fan of.
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Victor Lindelof on Willy Kambwala Speaking in an interview with Manchester United’s media team, Lindelof had high praise for the Frenchman who is teetering on the border of the first-team squad.
“Well, I think he’s a great talent, obviously very young, but I think he’s got a great future ahead of him,” says Lindelof. “And I think when it comes to players like that, it’s just, you know, talking to them and making them understand what they have to do.
“Obviously you reach this level now, but when you get to this level, then this is when the real hard work begins. He’s a very, very good guy and he’s got the right mentality. So I’m not really worried about that. I think he’s got a great future ahead of him.”
Kamwbala must be impressive around Carrington, as now Lindelof and Raphael Varane have stated how impressed they are with the 19-year-old.
It’s been a while since United have had a seriously top defender burst through the youth scene – but so far Kambwala is showing good signs. He should and likely will get more chances to impress.
Willy Kambwala will get chances, one thing that cannot be questioned about Ten Hag, he loves giving youth their shot. He did so with Kambwala, gifting him his debut at the club.
With United still nursing a plethora of injuries towards the end of the season, Kambwala will get more opportunities to shine – as he should.
United have made mistakes in the past with academy talent, letting them go too early without letting them prove themselves. They should learn from their past mistakes regarding the Frenchman.
Baby steps, of course, but all news coming out of Old Trafford about the young defender seems to be positive. Long may it continue.
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Raphael Varane thinks Manchester United have a teenage defender with a ‘great future’Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
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Raphael Varane thinks Manchester United have a teenage defender with a ‘great future’
Fri 16 February 2024 15:30
Dan Owen
Raphael Varane is full of praise for Willy Kambwala with the teenage defender tipped to have a ‘great future’ at Premier League giants Manchester United.
Amid all the excitement surrounding the development of Kobbie Mainoo, Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho – three players who might just have spawned an image which could yet become one of the most iconic in Manchester United’s modern history – do not forget about a 19-year-old centre-half who has also made quite an impression in the first-team of late.
Willy Kambwala certainly held his own on his Red Devils debut, thrown in at the deep end at West Ham and swimming while many of his more experienced team-mates sank during a dismal 2-0 defeat.
And, with Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans and the aforementioned Raphael Varane all facing uncertain futures in the Ineos era, Kambwala could yet become as integral to Man United going forward as Mainoo, Hojlund and Garnacho.
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Future looks bright at Manchester United, “He is showing his qualities,” Varane, one of the finest and most successful centre-halves of the 21st century, tells Man United’s website of his 19-year-old protege.
“I think he will play more matches in the future and continue to improve. He is very young, but he is showing his qualities and we trust him.
“He has a great future.”
Kambwala has made just four senior appearances under Erik ten Hag this season. The 6ft 4ins giant is a regular in first-team training sessions these days, however, and could yet be the latest top-level French centre-half to emerge from across the Channel.
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Kambwala, who joined United from Sochaux back in 2020, has already captained Les Bleus at youth level.
Ten Hag rates Willy Kambwala highly
“He makes a good impression in training and during games of the Under-21s. So we decided to play him. I think he has shown he has the capabilities,” Ten Hag said after December’s 2-0 West Ham reverse.
“I think his performance was very solid. You can see has a very bright future. Of course, he has to work on himself. But you can see his potential. And we are very pleased, I think, with his performance.’
“As we’ve seen in this game, I think we have we seen many skills for a modern centre-back.”
Man United are expected to spend big on a defender. Jarrad Branthwaite, Goncalo Inacio and Leny Yoro among the targets. Kambwala, however, could yet save the Red Devils a penny or two if he continues to progress at his current rate.
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