February 26th 2024.
Last summer, Anthony Elanga made the move to Nottingham Forest in a £15m deal after finding himself in need of a fresh start. The promising young footballer had originally joined Manchester United with high hopes of securing a spot in the first team under the guidance of manager Eik ten Hag. However, things did not go as planned and Elanga found himself struggling to get the playing time he desired.
Despite initially breaking into the United first team under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and even scoring a memorable Champions League goal against Atletico Madrid, Elanga's opportunities dwindled following ten Hag's arrival in Manchester. The Dutch manager had a reputation for developing young talent, as seen with his success at Ajax with players like Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt. Elanga was hopeful that he too would benefit from ten Hag's guidance at Old Trafford.
However, things did not pan out as expected and Elanga found himself with limited chances to prove himself. In an interview with The Times, he expressed his frustration at not being able to play regularly and his decision to seek a fresh challenge elsewhere. He acknowledged that leaving a club he had been a part of for nine years was difficult, but he knew it was necessary for his career growth.
While Elanga's time at Manchester United may not have gone as planned, his former youth teammate Kobbie Mainoo has been excelling in the first team at Forest. The talented midfielder has started the last nine league games and has quickly become an integral part of the team. Elanga had nothing but praise for Mainoo, describing him as an amazing player and a top person.
He also expressed his confidence in Mainoo's abilities, stating that he had always been a standout player during their time together in the academy. Elanga believes that Mainoo's playing style has remained the same despite having to adapt to the first team, and he is not surprised by his success.
As for Elanga himself, he is now enjoying a fine season at Forest and is determined to continue improving as a player. Although things did not work out for him at Manchester United, he remains grateful for the experience and is determined to make the most of his fresh start at Forest.
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