Man Utd academy product who was called 'top player' by Jose Mourinho now plays for Polish club at 26
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.
In fact, after making 14 first-team appearances throughout the 2015/16 campaign, he was rewarded with a four-year deal.
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“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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
"It wasn't easy, I was young. That's what football is like. Sometimes you work, but it doesn't always work."
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Topics: Leeds United, Premier League, Man Utd, Football
Jack Kenmare