Reporting Sports in a refreshing style

Michele Fornasier: No regret not playing at Old Trafford

 

Former Manchester United youth player Michele Fornasier  says he has no regret whatsoever not making appearance for the club at Old Trafford.Fornasier looks back fondly on his Manchester United career, but the defender failed to make a single first-team appearance at Old Trafford.

Fornasier, who is back in his native Italy at S.S. Monopoli in the Serie C, spent four years in the United youth ranks.

The 28-year-old was handpicked from the Fiorentina academy before he progressed through the United ranks, making it to the reserves in 2011.

He recently told Tuttocalciopuglia: “It was an incredible experience.

“It formed me as a man and as a player: as an environment, it’s probably the best to develop young people. I learned and studied from the best and tried to be like them.”However, Fornasier’s move to United was marred in controversy.

In 2009, Chelsea were reported to FIFA by RC Lens for ‘tapping up’ Gaël Kakuta, and the Blues were handed a transfer ban until 2011.

Soon after Lens’ allegations, Le Harve lodged similar complaints to FIFA about United’s acquisition of Paul Pogba.

In a statement, the port town said: “The player [Pogba] and his parents refused to keep the arrangement because Manchester United offered very high sums of money to the parents of the [player].”

Following Le Harve’s complaints, Fiorentina contacted FIFA claiming United had “stolen” Fornasier, but neither side have made any further comments.

Fornasier lifted the FA Youth Cup during the 2011/12 season, and he played at the Dallas Cup, a youth tournament for invited teams, twice.

However, he was released by Manchester United in 2013 when his contract expired.

Fornasier moved back to his homeland, and he joined Serie A’s Sampdoria  making ten first-team appearances in two years.

READ ALSOBarcelona interested in Man United’s Anthony Martial

But they remain his only top-flight caps as the Italian dropped down the divisions in search of first-team football.

However, Fornasier still remains positive that he can return to the upper echelons of football one more time.

You might also like

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.