MANCHESTER UNITED fans have likened an academy player to Lionel Messi after watching his stunning solo goal.
Jay McEvoy, 17, twisted and danced through several diving bodies before slotting a goal home in recent training footage.
Man Utd fans in meltdown as academy kid leaves team-mates on the floor with ludicrous goal Credit: X/FergieStandards
McEvoy lured in his team-mates and slipped between five of them to create a window to shoot Credit: X/FergieStandards
Jay McEvoy (right) with Chido Obi and Louie Bradbury in the Youth Cup semi final win over Blackburn at Old Trafford Credit: PA
Gathering the ball in a tight space, McEvoy lured in his team-mates and slipped between five of them to create a window to shoot.
Mimicking a Cruyff turn, the youngster sold three feints and slipped the ball cleanly past two sliding defenders.
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And it was even more impressive that McEvoy is a deep lying midfielder by trade.
It left United fans excited about what’s to come, with one writing: “Wow. Are you sure that’s not Messi?”
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Another said: “That was nasty!”
McEvoy played for Darren Fletcher‘s Under-18s last season and is set to step up to the Under-21s under Adam Lawrence this term.
While United are considering loans for most of their Under-21 stars, a loan for McEvoy appears unlikely at this stage.
He played a huge role on Fletcher’s side’s quest to two major finals and the league battle with City, when United finished runners up.
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But McEvoy dropped out of the squad for the Youth Cup final against City as Amir Ibragimov returned from injury.
He did feature in the U18 Premier League Cup final, scoring his penalty in the shootout before United were beaten by Crystal Palace.
An aggressive midfielder who loves to win tackles and is excellent on both feet, McEvoy showed his quality with two goals against Liverpool U18s in April.
The midfielder has represented Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland in youth international fixtures.
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