Manchester United’s Spanish RB Wonderkid

Manchester United went on considerably of a spree when Brexit loomed massive. With the laws quickly banning transfers of non-English U18 children, the membership made a proactive transfer to recruit the very best from throughout the continent. Alongside got here wonderkids like Hannibal Mejbri, Alvaro Fernandez, Alejandro Garnacho and Marc Jurado. Two of those are already thriving within the Championship.

Now the third, Marc Jurado is within the headlines after making the squad in opposition to Nottingham Forest. Erik ten Hag has proven with Alejandro Garnacho this season that if you happen to’re ok you’re sufficiently old. It’s extremely unlikely Jurado makes his debut for the membership quickly however with the way in which he has been progressing in United’s youth ranks, don’t be stunned that this squad look is talked about as the beginning of an important profession sooner or later. The suitable-back has been impressing the coaches in youth ranks and has been promoted from one stage to a different with lightning pace.

So, who’s Marc Jurado and why is there such pleasure surrounding him?

Who’s Marc Jurado?

Born in Sabadell, Spain, Marc Jurado is a product of the famed ‘La Masia‘ academy of Barcelona. He was scouted by the Catalans on the age of 4 for his goalscoring skill.

He joined La Masia in 2011, on the age of seven. Having completed his footballing schooling within the progressive Spanish fashion, he rejected Barcelona’s skilled contract supply to change to Manchester United in the summertime of 2020.

Straight from La Masia, Marc Jurado 🇪🇸❤️ pic.twitter.com/yQuSJv6deE

— Two Instances a Man (@twotimesaguy) April 16, 2023

Marc Jurado signed his skilled contract with the membership in April 2021 and after impressing within the U18 squad as a 16-year-old, he has already change into an important member of the U23 squad for the final two seasons.

Marc Jurado stats

Marc Jurado has spent nearly all of this season taking part in with the Manchester United U23 squad. Though he spent a while with the U23s final 12 months, he has actually come into his personal this season.

Jurado has three objectives and 4 assists in 20 appearances in Premier League 2 (U23 stage of Premier League). These numbers could be ok for an attacking midfielder or a midfielder, however Jurado has managed this output whereas taking part in as a right-back!

He has been concerned in 18% of all objectives scored by the group, a exceptional stat for a defender.

Regardless of being primarily right-footed, Jurado can also be snug taking part in as a left-back, like Diogo Dalot.

Enjoying fashion

The stats communicate their very own story on Marc Jurado’s taking part in fashion. Jurado is an adventurous fullback within the mould of Diogo Dalot. He likes to routinely enterprise ahead and relishes contributing within the attacking part.

He will get assists from cutbacks and crosses whereas having the uncanny skill to reach within the field on the proper time to get on the finish of these crosses as nicely from the other aspect.

On the defensive finish, Jurado’s tempo permits him to get out of hassle if he’s caught too far forward throughout counter-attacking conditions. On account of his attacking skill, he has additionally been deployed on the proper wing sporadically this season.

It’s anticipated that if Marc Jurado retains up his attacking output, then, like Gareth Bale, his future might lie additional ahead on the wing as a substitute of as an RB.

Marc Jurado’s potential

At any time when a younger participant makes his first look below the intense lights, that is the primary query on followers’ minds. So, what’s Marc Jurado’s potential and the way good can he be? In a single phrase, his potential is – Limitless.

Not many defenders boss the youth rank soccer fairly as closely as Marc Jurado has. His compatriot Alvaro Fernandez wasn’t fairly as impactful at this stage and he has gone on to flourish for Preston on mortgage in Championship this season.

Being skilled in Barcelona’s academy earlier than coming throughout to England, Jurado’s sport has the very best of each worlds. He’s technically proficient on the ball and has a very good sense of area. He combines that with bodily prowess and agility that permits him to overpower opponents on the youth stage.

At his greatest, Marc Jurado could be a game-changer from the full-back place like Trent Alexander-Arnold is for Liverpool. For that to occur, he should work on his floor passing a bit and lift his defensive consciousness. Nonetheless, aged simply 19 and blessed with all of the uncooked instruments, that ought to be the minimal expectation.

Even when his defensive aptitude leaves one thing to be desired, Jurado has proven sufficient to be tried as an attacker to utilize his exceptional attacking nous.

Marc Jurado at Manchester United

Generally, youth gamers simply want a sequence of issues to interrupt proper for them to interrupt the glass ceiling. Marcus Rashford solely made his debut as a result of Anthony Martial pulled out throughout the warm-up and his backup James Wilson was additionally injured. He scored two objectives on debut and by no means appeared again.

Marc Jurado is concerned in at this time’s match day squad 🙌 pic.twitter.com/CLRQF88VJu

— Manchester_United_Youth (@MUFC_Youth) April 16, 2023

It’s possible that if Ethan Laird was on the membership at this time as a substitute of on mortgage, he’d be within the squad forward of Jurado. Nonetheless, this can be a break he has gotten. With mounting damage considerations within the senior group, Erik ten Hag would possibly give Jurado an opportunity out of sheer necessity.

If he takes that probability with each arms, then the place he performs means he has the very best probability of cementing a first-team place. Neither Aaron Wan-Bissaka nor Diogo Dalot has confirmed their place because the undisputed first-choice RB. Manchester United are even reported to be available in the market for an RB, with Jeremie Frimpong hyperlinks selecting the tempo.

Nonetheless, if Marc Jurado runs with the chance if given to him, United might get an in-house resolution to an issue space identical to Garnacho’s ascent added to the membership’s attacking ranks.