6 months ago
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Manchester United starlet Charlie McNeill has confirmed he will be moving on from his boyhood club upon the expiration of his contract this summer.
McNeill, 20, began his youth career with United before switching to arch-rivals Manchester City in 2014, where he would go on to score over 600 goals in the academy ranks.
In 2020, McNeill completed a return to United in a deal worth around £750,000 and the highly rated forward immediately caught the eye with an extraordinary return of 24 goals in 21 games in his opening season for the Under-18 team.
McNeill was rewarded with a call-up to United’s first-team squad in 2022 before being handed his senior debut by Erik ten Hag in the side’s Europa League group-stage defeat at home to Real Sociedad, coming on as an 83rd-minute substitute for Tyrell Malacia.
However, it would be McNeill’s one and only appearance for the Red Devils and the youngster was sent on loan to League Two outfit Newport County in January 2023, where he scored twice in 20 appearances.
Ten Hag sent McNeill on his his second loan spell in September, this time to League One club Stevenage, but the Manchester-born attacker struggled for regular minutes and returned to his parent club over the winter.
‘My time has now come to an end at Manchester United and I would just like to say thank you to all the coaches, staff, fans and everyone involved at the club for the best 4 years ever, from joining the club to winning the FA Youth Cup to then making my first team debut as an 18 year old which was my dream come true,’ McNeill told his Instagram followers this evening.
‘I will be forever grateful for getting that opportunity and living my dream of playing at the Theatre of Dreams for my boyhood club which I can thank the manager for.
‘I’ve made some friends for life and learnt valuable lessons along the way. I love the club and it will always have a special place in my heart.
‘Once a red. Always a red.’
McNeill was a part of United’s squad that won the FA Youth Cup in 2022, starring alongside the likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho, who are now first-team regulars under Ten Hag.
When McNeill came on as a late replacement against Real Sociedad two years ago, he become the first United academy player to be given his first-team debut by Ten Hag.
But the youngster will be a free agent this summer and is seeking for a fresh challenge ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
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