It has been reported that Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe admits he’s a product of the club’s junior system.
Tuanzebe has made the first team bench for United this season and turns 18 on Sunday.
“I was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and moved when I was three or four years old,” he revealed.
“I grew up in Rochdale and football was always my love. There was a nice little local football pitch where everyone would go. A group of my friends would play every day, there were always games there, and I joined in.
“From a young age, I could see everyone was complimenting me on my talent and I was brought to a nearby local team. I started playing for them regularly every Saturday for two years before I joined Manchester United. I was eight and started playing for the Under-11s. There are three of us still here from that Under-11s team.”
Tuanzebe says he’s always been a defender.
He also told manutd.com: “Defender has always been the most natural position for me.
“I would say I can fill in in other positions but, naturally, it always felt right at the back. Even in little five-a-side games, I would always end up at the back of the field just to ensure everything was safe.”