Manchester United’s history-making teenager Shola Shoretire snubs Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus and PSG interest to sign pro contract

Manchester United’s highly-rated starlet Shola Shoretire has signed a professional contract with the club.

Shoretire only turned 17 last week and has already been starring for the Red Devils’ Under-23s, leading to interest from rivals across Europe.

He is regarded as one of the best attacking young midfielders in Europe and usually plays from the left but can also be used on the right or behind a striker.

Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain have all been trying to tempt him away from Man United.

But he decided to commit his future to the Red Devils and has now penned a lucrative first professional contract at Old Trafford.

Shoretire is understood to have sought the advice of Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood and Michael Owen over his future and was convinced to stay at United.

He posted on Instagram: “It’s a dream come true to sign my first professional contract for my boyhood club! Such a proud day for me and my family.

“Thank you to everyone at the club and to my family who have helped me get to this moment. Hard work continues!”

Shoretire made history in 2018 when he became the youngest United player ever to appear in the UEFA Youth League, aged just 14.

He is now part of the Under-23s and hit a hat-trick against Blackburn last week.

It understood he linked up with United’s first team squad for training on Sunday, and there is an expectation he will feature for the senior side at some point this season.

Speaking in December, Under-23s head coach Neil Wood praised the progress the youngster is making.

“Shola has always played up a year through his whole academy career,” Wood said. “I can’t remember him ever playing his own age group. He has always been stretched.

“He is very mature for his age, the way he plays, he does a lot of work, takes a lot of positions up, and he has played a lot of roles. He’s played [number] nine, he’s played left, he’s played on the right, he’s played 10 and whatever you ask him to do – on and off the ball – he is going to do it. You can trust him to do that job.

“He is very young and doing excellent for the age of him. I am not expecting him to be man of the match or [a] main figure of the team, because he is so young, but he’s not going on that pitch and drowning or anything. He has probably been one of our most consistent outstanding performers throughout the season.”