FA Youth Cup winner with Garnacho and Mainoo opens up on 'stressful' Man Utd exit, he's united with a legend

The measure of success of Man Utd’s youth academy is as much about creating professional footballers as it is about creating professional footballers for Man Utd.

In that sense, Man Utd have one of the most successful academies in the world because the players who came through the system are at various levels of the game today.

One such player, who was emerging as a favourite of Erik ten Hag and won the FA Youth Cup with the crop of Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, has recently sealed his exit.

He has opened up on his next move, where he’s united with a club legend, while talking about the stressful and exciting time when he was leaving Old Trafford.

Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images

Sam Murray on Man Utd departure

The last pre-season was an exciting one for Sam Murray because Luke Shaw’s injury, Sofyan Amrabat’s loan spell ended, and Tyrell Malacia’s issue had opened up a spot for him.

The left-back signed from Huddersfield impressed in pre-season, but once the senior players returned and Patrick Dorgu was signed in January, the door to the senior team was shut.

This summer, he took a chance on himself and signed with Carlisle United in the National League, where he will play under Man Utd legend Mark Hughes.

Speaking to the News and Star, Murray opened up about his experience at United and learning to cope in his new surroundings.

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He said: “Knowing it [time at Man Utd] was going to come to an end was a bit stressful, but it was exciting at the same time. I knew it was my time to move on. I needed to start a new chapter.

“I’m still young, but I want to be on an upward trajectory here. Carlisle presents that to me. In my group, when I was 14, we had Maxi Oyedele, Kobbie [Mainoo]…there were so many players in my team that it was so good to be around, and watch them develop as well.

“To go to the very end and win it [FA Youth Cup] at Old Trafford in front of a full crowd was a memory I’ll never forget.”

Man Utd should explore partnerships with English league clubs

Murray’s move to Carlisle opens up the question about affiliate clubs in English football, and how a team like Man Utd can make it a beneficial relationship for everyone involved.

In recent years, United have managed to finalise successful loans (Ethan Williams, Radek Vitek), but there have been massive mishaps too (Joe Hugill and Ethan Wheatley).

By sealing a partnership with a club or two, they can rest easy knowing they’re sending their young prospects to a club that they know inside out.

For the other party, it would be a huge benefit because United’s youth system is currently among the best in the world, so the bar is high.

Even those who are not “highly-rated” by United’s standards could easily do a job for teams lower down the pyramid.

Clubs like Carlisle, that have a United connection with Mark Hughes, could be a good choice, and the added benefit will be that players on loan could have a known face by their side to ease acclimatisation.

If Murray does well at Carlisle, it will only increase the reputation of United’s academy, opening more doors for the club’s current prospects in professional football.

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