Anthony Elanga has been one of the shining stars in an otherwise dull and disappointing Premier League season for Manchester United. But had it not been for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's intervention, his career may have followed an entirely different trajectory.
The Swedish youngster had been the subject of several loan offers from Premier League and Championship clubs after catching the eye of scouts playing for the Under-23s and his brief cameos with Man United from the bench. Eventually, he was given his chance to impress in pre-season amid a number of injuries and absentees in the first-team squad.
Elanga was handed a start in the pre-season friendly against Queens Park Rangers and took the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium by storm. He scored once and went close on two occasions as United went down 4-2 to the Rs, proving he was every bit as exciting as reports had suggested. United staff member Martyn Hett apparently said to now football director Darren Fletcher: "Elanga will play for us this season" - and he did.
Still, the 19-year-old faced a tough job of squeezing in front of Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Bruno Fernandes in the United team. A loan felt like the most obvious option, and ESPN report he received a number of offers from interested clubs. But with encouragement from United coaches and his manager Solskjaer, he stayed in Manchester.
"It would be easy to say the boy should go on loan but he's doing so well," said Solskjaer after the game. "He's electric, his pace, his skill, he's not afraid of anything and he's got the courage and the bravery of a Man United player. I wouldn't be surprised if he was staying here. If he keeps on like he is I might want to keep him."
Despite Solskjaer's show of faith, he would have to wait until December 5 until his first taste of action in the Premier League - and that was after the Norwegian had been disposed of by the club after a dismal 4-1 defeat to Watford. His replacement, Ralf Rangnick, had a clear eye for talent and saw something in Elanga that impressed him.
Have Your Say! Should Anthony Elanga be an automatic starter for Manchester United next season? Comment below.
Like his predecessor, Rangnick blocked a loan departure for Elanga in January and clearly felt the teenager had a part of play after watching him score in the 3-1 win over Brentford. Then a goal followed against Leeds and finally, the crucial equaliser at the Wanda Metropolitano in the first leg of their Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid. Soon enough, Elanga was ahead of Sancho and Rashford in Rangnick's pecking order - and some would argue on merit.
A player blessed with great pace but also a clinical finisher, the Swedish starlet - son of former Cameroon player Joseph Elanga - has embodied the 'United DNA' argument put forward for academy graduates, having joined the club at the age of 12. While it can be said that some United players have underachieved this season, Elanga is not one of them. Since the German coach's arrival on an interim basis in December, Elanga has made 17 appearances and scored three goals. He has since become a full international for Sweden after making his debut against Czech Republic in the World Cup qualifying playoff.
There have been some dark moments in his short United career too when, just like his United colleagues Rashford and Sancho, he was inexplicably targeted on social media abuse for racial abuse after missing in a penalty shootout against Middlesbrough. He has showed courage to bounce back from that and keep focused on his football, and with new head coach Erik ten Hag taking charge next season, United will be hoping Elanga can kick off his twenties with a standout campaign in 2022-23.
