Man Utd chief who helped to sign ‘next Neymar’ leaves club as offer accepted | Football | Sport
Manchester United are reportedly set to lose a key figure who helped the club to sign the ‘next Neymar’. Luke Fedorenko, head of academy recruitment, is said to be nearing an exit having agreed to take up a new role away from Old Trafford. He has worked for the Red Devils since 2017, when he was drafted in to help modernise the club’s academy system.
Fedorenko was a major player in the signing of JJ Gabriel, who has already been likened to Neymar at the age of just 14. Several other young players, including the likes of Chido Obi and Ayden Heaven, have developed well under Fedorenko’s guidance. He has also championed the use of data and video scouting during his time at United.
According to The Athletic, Fedorenko will leave the club after accepting an offer to work for a ‘major football agency’. He will become the latest behind-the-scenes figure to depart Old Trafford, with plenty of changes taking place over the last few months.
Academy boss Nick Cox, who previously worked with Fedorenko at Sheffield United, recently left to become Everton’s technical director. He has been replaced by former Brentford figure Steven Torpey.
The report adds that United did not want Fedorenko to leave the club, but his exit will give Torpey an opportunity to shape his own leadership team.
Meanwhile, head of performance analysis Paul Brand told the Red Devils that he would be departing earlier this year. He has since taken up a role with UEFA but stayed on until his replacement, Ben Parker, started work at United on Monday.
Club chiefs will be hoping for the widespread changes to usher in a new era as they look to turn their fortunes around following a difficult start to the season.
United returned to winning ways by beating Sunderland over the weekend, but speculation remains that Ruben Amorim could be relieved of his duties if there are no lasting improvements.
Speaking last week, the Red Devils manager said it would be ‘naive’ to think he will be allowed to continue in such a scenario.
“We understand that we need results to continue the project,” said Amorim. “We will reach a point that is impossible for everyone because this is a very big club with a lot of sponsors, with two owners. So it’s hard, the balance is really hard.
“I’m the manager of the club, a big club, and it’s the media that is going to dictate what I’m going to do? It cannot be. It’s not possible to sustain that.
“My biggest problem is for my players to believe in you guys [the media] when you say the problem of our team is the system. I get crazy about that because I can see the team.
“This team play in a different system for many years. And you were talking about the lack of identity, no idea, whatever. So it’s not the system. It’s the small details, the way we play the game.”
