Despite being criticised for not promoting youth at Manchester United, Jose Mourinho still offered a number of academy graduates first-team opportunities.
United finished sixth and second in Mourinho’s two full seasons at Old Trafford, also winning the EFL Cup and Europa League in 2016-17.
We’ve looked at the six academy players he handed debuts to, to see how their respective careers have developed since.
Axel Tuanzebe
At United since the age of eight, Tuanzebe first appeared as a second-half substitute in a 4–0 FA Cup victory over Wigan in January 2017.
The centre-back made another seven appearances under Mourinho before enjoying two loan spells at Aston Villa, the second of which he helped the club win promotion from the Championship.
Injuries have halted his progress and Tuanzebe failed to make much impression at Villa and Napoli last season. It’s likely that he’ll leave Old Trafford this summer.
Joel Pereira
Pereira made the first of three senior appearances under Mourinho against Wigan in January 2017, replacing Sergio Romero in the 80th minute.
“We have a third goalkeeper that I think will be the best Portuguese goalkeeper of the next generation so anyone in goal I trust completely,” Mourinho said in 2017.
But the 25-year-old left United last summer and is currently turning out for Eredivisie club RKC Waalwijk.
READ: The 10 academy graduates Man Utd released in 2021 & how they’ve fared
Scott McTominay
Mourinho gave McTominay his debut in May 2017 as a substitute against Arsenal and even awarded the midfielder his ‘Manager’s Player Of The Year’ award in 2018.
“Jose is very special to me. He still keeps in contact with me now and keeps in touch after some games,” McTominay told Sky Sports in 2019.
“He’ll always have a special place in mine and my family’s heart because he’s the one who brought you in, he was the one who trusted you, he was the one who had belief in you.
“I owe a tremendous amount of credit to him because if it wasn’t for him I might not necessarily be sitting in this seat.”
Demetri Mitchell
Mitchell made his United debut against Crystal Palace in 2017 as Mourinho rested the majority of the first team ahead of their Europa League final victory over Ajax.
“I have to pay respect to Jose,” Mitchell told edinburghlive in 2019. “He gave me my United debut…
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