• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Man Utd academy product who was called 'top player' by Jose Mourinho now plays for Polish club at 26

Home> Football> Football News> Man Utd

Updated 16:21 20 Oct 2023 GMT+1Published 16:20 20 Oct 2023 GMT+1

Man Utd academy product who was called 'top player' by Jose Mourinho now plays for Polish club at 26

Cameron Borthwick-Jackson made a handful of appearances for Manchester United under Louis van Gaal.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

A former Manchester United defender who was once called a "top player" by Jose Mourinho is now playing in Poland for top tier side Śląsk Wrocław.

Cameron Borthwick-Jackson made a promising start to life at United. After spending 12 years in the club's academy system, he would make his senior debut in their Premier League clash against West Brom.

Louis van Gaal, who gave out debuts to a flurry of academy products, including Marcus Rashford, Guillermo Varela, Tom Thorpe and Donald Love, was clearly impressed by Borthwick-Jackson.

Advert

In fact, after making 14 first-team appearances throughout the 2015/16 campaign, he was rewarded with a four-year deal.

“I have seen him once or twice and I have been impressed by him," Van Gaal said after his debut against West Brom. “I put Cameron in the line-up without any fear, and I have to say he did very well.”

Three months after winning United's U21 Player of the Year award, Borthwick-Jackson was loaned out to then-Championship side Wolves in 2016 on the recommendation of new United boss Jose Mourinho.

Advert

Speaking to FourFourTwo at the end of 2016, he said: "I speak to him [Mourinho] all the time. He's always keeping eyes on me and he has people watching.

"When I first came into pre-season I got injured early on, and as I recovered he asked me how I was and things like that.

"When I came back he said: 'the squad's a bit too big but I see a future for you here' and that I'm a 'top player'. He told me to go out and get some experience."

Despite ongoing talks with Mourinho, who clearly rated Borthwick-Jackson, the Manchester-born full-back return to Old Trafford during the second half of the season following a lack of game time.

Advert

Still, the talented youngster was placed ahead of Ousmane Dembele, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Theo Hernandez, amongst many others, in SciSports‘ list of the 30 most talented European players born after 1997.

Image credit: Getty
Image credit: Getty
Image credit: Getty
Image credit: Getty

READ MORE:

  • Former Man Utd defender Tom Thorpe says his debut was 'completely tainted' by Louis van Gaal

Borthwick-Jackson would then be loaned out to Leeds, Scunthorpe United, Tranmere Rovers and Oldham in the coming years before being released by United in 2020.

Advert

Now, aged 26, the much-travelled defender recently signed for Polish side Slask Wroclaw following spells in the Football League with Oldham and Burton Albion.

Back in August, Borthwick-Jackson opened up about the English loan system.

For me the loan system doesn't work properly," he told Polish outlet WroclawskieFakty. "When I went out on loan, I had an average of three coaches per season. So it was difficult to maintain consistency of work.

"On my first loan the coach was fired after a month, then I had an interim coach for three games and then another one. In October I already had three coaches – on my first loan.

Advert

"It wasn't easy, I was young. That's what football is like. Sometimes you work, but it doesn't always work."

SPORTbible are on WhatsApp! We've launched a dedicated news channel to send you the latest news, features and plenty more directly on WhatsApp and all you need to do to sign up is click through to our one-way broadcast channel here for 'SPORTbible News' to appear in the 'Updates' tab on your WhatsApp.

Featured Image Credit: Getty Images

Topics: Manchester United, Leeds United, Premier League, Poland

Jack Kenmare
Jack Kenmare

Jack is a Senior Journalist who enjoys a long read. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of Football Manager wonderkids from 2005 to the present day, and has interviewed a handful of FM's finest, including Freddy Adu, Supat Rungratsamee and Mika Aaritalo.

X

@jackkenmare_

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • What happened to Donald Love, who played one PL game for Man Utd after 'screaming' at Wayne Rooney
  • Sheikh Jassim now thinking of buying another club in huge blow to Man Utd
  • Surprise club emerge as favourites to sign Jadon Sancho from Man Utd, the deal is moving fast
  • Man Utd fans ask club to re-sign Jose Mourinho favourite after contract termination

Choose your content:

15 mins ago
an hour ago
  • 15 mins ago

    Napoli eye 'new Scott McTominay' signing that needs €20 million sale to make a reality

    Napoli could sign the new Scott McTominay but they have to make a key decision about a sale for another player

    Football
  • an hour ago

    Fans spot personal message Cristiano Ronaldo wrote to Donald Trump on gift for the US President

    Trump was presented with a special gift.

    Football
  • an hour ago

    Gareth Southgate has applied for surprise managerial job with two conditions set for ex-England boss to take role

    Southgate stepped down as England manager last July following their Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.

    Football
  • an hour ago

    Xabi Alonso immediately identifies two things Trent Alexander-Arnold must improve after first Real Madrid training session

    Xabi Alonso has already found room for improvement for Trent Alexander-Arnold without him playing his first game for Real Madrid.

    Football