Promising forward Chido Obi-Martin is reportedly being pursued by Manchester United following the expiration of his contract with Arsenal.
The 16-year-old gained attention in April with a remarkable performance, scoring seven goals in a 9-0 win for Arsenal’s under-18 team. Obi-Martin tallied 32 goals for Arsenal’s U18s this season, breaking Folarin Balogun’s record of 25 goals from the 2018/19 season.
The Athletic has reported that United are exploring a potential deal with Obi-Martin, who recently visited the club’s Carrington training facility. Manchester City is also rumored to be interested in the talented forward.
Obi-Martin has a history of notable performances, including scoring ten goals in a 14-3 victory over Liverpool’s under-16s in November.
He has represented Arsenal in the UEFA Youth League against teams like Sevilla and Lens and made two substitute appearances at the Premier League 2 level.
Born in Glostrup, Denmark, Obi-Martin moved to the UK as a teenager and has represented both England and Denmark at youth levels, with eligibility to play for Nigeria.
However, he appears more likely to represent Denmark, having scored ten goals in 14 games for their Under-17 team, including four goals in a 6-2 win against Norway.
Jesper Mikkelsen, Denmark’s international head coach, highlighted Obi-Martin’s exceptional abilities, emphasizing his goal-scoring instinct.
Mikkelsen noted, “Right now he is really dominant because of his physique, but I don’t think that is the only reason. His greatest characteristic and challenge is that he really wants to score goals.”
However, he added that this focus could sometimes be a drawback, as it leads Obi-Martin to prioritize scoring opportunities over team play.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright has also praised Obi-Martin, stating, “Chido Obi-Martin, he’s 15, honestly, he’s like 6 foot 2, he looks really quick.”
Obi-Martin’s impressive performances have attracted significant interest, and his next move could be a pivotal moment in his budding career.
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