What happened next to forgotten Man Utd wonderkids who were meant to become world-class but never made it
MANCHESTER UNITED have a reputation for bringing through world-class talent from their youth-team.
The Red Devils have produced hot prospects for several decades from Marcus Rashford to the iconic Class of 92.
Plenty that have tried to follow in their footsteps went on to never make it.
Here are five forgotten Man Utd wonderkids that didn’t live up to the hype.
Federico Macheda
It’s impossible to forget Macheda’s stunning debut as a 17-year-old.
The substitute cut in brilliantly and bent a curling effort into the top corner to complete a 3-2 comeback against Aston Villa in 2009.
Then his second appearance, the Italian striker again came off the bench to score inside 46 seconds versus Sunderland.
Macheda would eventually get loaned out to Sampdoria, QPR, Stuttgart, Doncaster and Birmingham, failing to impress at all but the latter.
United then permanently sold him to Cardiff and he went on to have a spell with homeland side Novara in Serie B.
Macheda eventually stopped his journeyman style and spent four years at Greek club Panathinaikos, scoring 40 goals in 116 matches.
He is now at Ankaragucu in the Turkish Super Lig.
Darron Gibson
Gibson was tipped as a star of the future when, winning the prestigious Jimmy Murphy player of the year award.
He made his debut for United in 2005 before being loaned out to Royal Antwerp and Wolves.
Gibson returned to Old Trafford in a squad player role for a couple of seasons and was handed an improved three-year contact.
The midfielder started in the League Cup final in 2009 and scored a goal in Man Utd‘s Champions League semi-final win over Schalke in 2011.
The Irishman soon left for more first-team chances, joining Everton and then Sunderland.
After good initial performances, injuries plagued his career and he was then charged with drink driving and failing to stop after a collision in 2015.
Gibson would then get arrested again for a similar alleged offence three years later in a £75,000 Mercedes and he was suspended by Sunderland.
He hung up his boots in 2021 after time at Wigan and Salford.
David Bellion
Bellion burst onto the scene at Sunderland and Man Utd signed him in 2003, following the Black Cats’ relegation for £2million.
The French striker drew comparisons to Thierry Henry and netted eight goals in two seasons at Old Trafford.
He was subsequently loaned to West Ham in 2005 for more minutes but failed to make an impact in the capital, scoring once in just ten matches.
Bellion then went to his homeland club of Nice for two seasons.
He would then spend seven years with Bordeaux, dipping in and out of form, although he did feature as a back-up striker as they won the Ligue 1 title in 2009.
He ended his career at Paris-based club Red Star and went on to be their creative director.
Mads Timm
Timm was plucked from the Odense youth-team in 2000 and made his one and only appearance in a Champions League group match two years after.
However, he flopped at Man Utd and was nearly sacked when he received a 12-month sentence in a young offenders institute for reckless driving, racing team-mate Callum Flanagan on a public road, resulting in a nasty crash.
Timm was called a “f****** idiot” by Sir Alex Ferguson and he later claimed the legendary boss was a “control freak” and his players were a “slave army”.
The Dane had a forgettable spell at Walsall on loan before going back to Odense.
He retired aged 25 due to falling out of love with football.
Ravel Morrison
Rio Ferdinand claimed Fergie “thought he was the best youngster he had seen“, but Morrison didn’t live up to the hype.
After starring in the United academy, the troubled midfielder left for West Ham in 2012 with boss Sam Allardyce, saying “he needed to start a new life away from Manchester.”
It has been claimed he owned three cars although he couldn’t drive.
Morrison impressed in cameos for the Hammers, netting a sublime solo goal versus Tottenham in 2013, which was a goal of the season contender.
West Ham let the wonderkid go after reported off-pitch issues and he went on to play for Cardiff, Birmingham, QPR, Lazio, Atlas, Ostersund, Sheffield United and Middlesbrough.
Wayne Rooney eventually took him under his wing, signing him at Derby and DC United.