Sports
Chido Obi-Martin takes just 15 minutes to score hat-trick on full debut after ditching Arsenal
In the first fifteen minutes of his full Manchester United debut, Chido Obi-Martin scored an incredible hat-trick for the team’s Under-18 squad.
The 16-year-old, who is considered to be among the best strikers in his age group, sprang to prominence at Arsenal after scoring ten goals in a single Under-16 match against Liverpool.
Before United swooped this summer, he trained with the first squad and scored 32 goals in 24 games for the Gunners at the youth level.
The Dane left Arsenal at the end of his contract, agreeing a deal with United with the move officially given the green light in September.
And Arsenal fans may be left wincing after hearing of their former starlet’s sensational start to life in Manchester.
He made his first appearance for United’s Under-18 side last week, coming off the bench for the final half hour in a 4-3 win against Sunderland.
Named in the starting XI on Saturday afternoon, he put Nottingham Forest to the sword after just 12 seconds, pouncing on a mistake at the back to coolly slot home.
Four minutes later he had a second, picking up the ball on the edge of the box after a poor clearance and drilling into the bottom corner.
A dream debut was sealed before the 15-minute mark as he completed his hat-trick. Latching onto a cross from James Scanlon, Obi-Martin produced a smart finish from just outside the six yard area.
Obi-Martin left Arsenal this summer having failed to agree terms on a new scholarship deal and was wanted by several top European clubs, including Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
United reportedly agreed to double the wages that were being offered his way in north London. The presence of legendary striker Ruud van Nistelrooy at Old Trafford also played a factor.
Van Nistelrooy returned to Manchester in the summer, joining Erik ten Hag’s backroom staff. The Dutchman personally spoke to the young striker ahead of the move, discussing his potential pathway to the first-team.
