Shola Shoretire becomes the youngest ever Man United player to feature in a European game

NIGERIAN-born Shola Shoretire has made history 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 yesterday.

Shoretire, who is just 17 years and 23 days old, came on in the 76th minute for Mason Greenwood in the Europa Cup game at Old Trafford, which ended goalless. In doing so, he broke a 38-year record, surpassing the record set by Norman Whiteside, who was 108 days older than him when he made his United debut in the Uefa Cup against Valencia on September 15, 1982.

Expressing delight on his Twitter account, Shoretire, said: “What a feeling to make my European debut. To become United’s youngest ever player in Europe is an incredible honour and a proud moment for me and my family."

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, added: “Shola’s got some skills and attributes that we think are going to make him a very good player here. It’s a platform of course tonight, just 15 minutes, so it’s something to build on, something for him to remember at Old Trafford.

"If the fans had been here, he would have enjoyed it more because they give you so much more energy. Football is strange at the moment, it is different but I’m sure all the fans will see him later on.”

Earlier this month, Shoretire signed his first professional contract with Manchester United on February 8, before being named in the senior squad 10 days later. He then made his senior debut for the club in its 3-1 victory over Newcastle United, coming in for Marcus Rashford in the second half.

When he made his Premier League debut, Shoretire became the second-youngest ever Manchester United player to represent the Reds in the Premier League. Aged 17 years and 19 days, only Angel Gomes played for the club at a younger age.