Manchester’s two top Premier League clubs, City and United, are synonymous with spending millions of pounds on new players every season. It’s certainly the reality, but also remember the millions saved by developing young starlets through their youth systems. The two Manchester giants have two of the best and most profitable academy systems in English football, and the results are plain to see.
The most obvious reference to how valuable a youth system can be is remembering Man Utd’s ‘Class of ’92.’ More recently, United’s academy has produced players like Marcus Rashford, Jonny Evans, Danny Welbeck, Jesse Lingard and Paul Pogba. Man City’s academy, not to be outdone, boasts the likes of Kasper Schmeichel, Daniel Sturridge, Jadon Sancho, Michael Olise and Phil Foden among its youth graduates.
How Does a Top Youth System Help a Football Club?
A successful academy can save a club a lot of money on transfers while also making money by selling developed players to other clubs for substantial fees. Man Utd’s Rashford and Man City’s Foden, for example, are now full England internationals and regulars for their prestigious clubs.
Any club looking to buy one of these players would have to fork out eight or even nine-figure amounts, meaning huge profits on the selling club’s investment. Let’s use the example of the recent sale of Man City’s Cole Palmer to Chelsea. Chelsea paid City over £40 million for Palmer, a youth player for The Citizens since 2009 who had only played 20 Premier League games for his long-time employers.
Compared to Rashford and Foden, 21-year-old Palmer is a relative novice, albeit with undoubted talent, already on display at Stamford Bridge. Foden, only two years older, now has a market value of £95 million, while Rashford, at 26, is valued at over £60 million.
Despite the costs involved in developing these players, their clubs would still gain millions from them should they choose to sell. While the players remain in their respective Manchester squads, City and United benefit from their top-class presence on the field. A decent academy provides a win-win scenario for its club.
While marketable young academy talents are of great value to their clubs, they also provide solid potential investments for fans looking to back them in individual betting markets. Often, a breakthrough prospect will not draw too much attention nationally through online sportsbooks and betting sites, whether on GamStop or otherwise.
This often results in longer odds being offered on these relatively unknown footballers, meaning local football supporters can take advantage by identifying their potential and their fledgling talent. Making use of these non-GamStop betting site recommendations from Techopedia could be valuable to fans backing their teams’ young starlets.
Breakthrough Prospects at the Two Manchester Giants
Last season, several young footballers saw first-team action at Old Trafford and the Etihad Stadium, while others debuted in 2023/24. We’re not referring to Erling Haaland or Anthony, whom the clubs spent seven-figure amounts on, but rather those who have moved up through their respective youth systems.
At Man City, some promising academy graduates, like Cole Palmer, have chosen to leave to further their careers. Another is 21-year-old goalkeeper James Trafford, a Man City academy player since 12, who won England age group caps from U17 to U21 levels. Trafford signed personal terms with Burnley last July, with the transfer earning his previous employers £15 million.
Let’s move on to three of those making their mark in the Man City and Man Utd first-team squads in 2023/24, though. We’ll also indicate how their market values have grown in tandem with their performances and experience.
Alejandro Garnacho (Man Utd)
Garnacho joined Man Utd U18s in October 2020 from Atléti Youth in Spain for a modest £400,000. Since making his Man Utd league debut against Chelsea in April 2022, the 19-year-old Argentinian has made good on his investment, turning out 18 times in the league for Erik ten Hag’s side this season.
The left-winger made his international debut in a friendly against Australia last June, the first of his three Argentinian caps, and has gone on to make 39 EPL appearances. He’s scored six league goals to date, including one from a stunning overhead kick against Everton in November. Alejandro Garnacho’s ability and growing experience have seen his market value soar to £26 million.
Rico Lewis (Man City)
Lewis (19) joined the Man City academy at the age of 12, with Pep Guardiola first including him in the senior squad for the 2022/23 season. The defender made his Premier League debut against Bournemouth in the second match of that season, featuring 13 more times in the EPL as Man City secured the league title. Lewis started four of the last five games of the successful campaign.
Further inclusion, albeit from the bench, in the early games of the current campaign meant Rico Lewis caught the eye of England manager Gareth Southgate. Lewis made his international debut when Southgate named him as England’s starting left-back against North Macedonia in November. He’s appeared in 9 league matches for Man City this season, which has helped his market value reach £33 million.
Kobbie Mainoo (Man Utd)
The last player we’re featuring is the youngest and least experienced of the trio, but Mainoo’s displays for The Red Devils this season should not be underestimated. Having made his Premier League debut as a 16-year-old in February 2022 as a substitute attacking midfielder against Leicester City, Mainoo didn’t feature again in the league that season.
After being injured in preseason, Mainoo returned to EPL action in a defensive midfield role against Everton last November. In his new role, he secured the Man of the Match award and has since been involved, playing in the same position, in five of Man Utd’s next seven league matches. Kobbie Mainoo’s market value at the beginning of 2023 was £260,000. A year later, his impressive league form and solid defensive capabilities have seen it grow to over £5 million.
