Man United youngster Shoretire’s father steps up pressure in bid to get him play for Super Eagles

MANCHESTER United striker Shola Shoretire could end up playing for the Super Eagles at international level after his father Alexander Oluwole Shoretire revealed that he has begun making moves to ensure his son features for Nigeria.

Shoretire made history in February this year by becoming the youngest ever Manchester United player to feature in a European match for the English Premier League giants when he featured against Real Sociedad. Shoretire, who was just 17 years and 23 days old at the time, came on in the 76th minute for Mason Greenwood in the Europa Cup game at Old Trafford, which ended goalless.

In making that appearance, Shoretire he broke a 38-year record at the club, surpassing the feat of Norman Whiteside, who was 108 days older than him when he made his Man United debut in the Uefa Cup against Valencia on September 15, 1982. Seeking to ensure Nigeria benefits from his son’s talent, Manchester businessman, Alexander Oluwole Shoretire, wants the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), to invite him to the Super Eagles as quickly as possible.

Mr Shoretire said: “I want those managing football in Nigeria to note that I want my son to play for my country, Nigeria. He has broken all records in football since he started playing and the England national team is doing everything possible to see that my son features for the Three Lions but I want him to play his senior career with the Super Eagles.”

Born on February 2, 2004 in Newcastle, to a Nigerian father and English mother, Shoretire is currently the highest paid footballer on the books of Adidas for players between the age of 17 and 25. As a child, Shoretire played with Whitley Bay Boys Club, Newcastle City Juniors, Wallsend Boys Club, Hebburn Town and Cramlington Juniors and was also briefly part of Manchester City’s youth setup.

In 2020, Neil Wood, the coach of England’s youth team, handed him his U-23 debut when he was just 16. Shoretire signed his first professional contract with Manchester United on February 8, 2021, a week after turning 17 and on February 21, 2021, made his first-team debut for Manchester United as an 88th-minute substitute for Marcus Rashford in a 3-1 home league win over Newcastle United.