Manchester United inks 9 year old

[sweety314]

maybe by adulthood, he'll be so burned out, he'll never want to look at another ball!


that's just crazy. Let the kid be a kid. If he's talented and WANTS to do it, then support him, but don't push for a career that's what? TEN ? YEARS away!

[frankykeno]

Far too young! Not only are they setting the child on a path he may not even want to follow as an adult, they are basically taking away his choices. Perhaps he might want to play for a different team as an adult or not play at all or whatever. As a minor he can't make those legal choices and his parents have basically signed away his future. Is there an out clause for this child? Where are his rights protected to make choices about his own pro life?

Personally I think at age 9 the important things that sports teach our children are about being a team player, about learning to both win and lose gracefully, to have fun and be healthy. Far too many parents are so caught up in their kid's being "stars" I wonder if they forget about them just having fun! If this kid is so gifted, he'll do fine...for now I say...let him be a happy little boy having fun with his friends!

[fergie]

Far too young! Not only are they setting the child on a path he may not even want to follow as an adult, they are basically taking away his choices. Perhaps he might want to play for a different team as an adult or not play at all or whatever. As a minor he can't make those legal choices and his parents have basically signed away his future. Is there an out clause for this child? Where are his rights protected to make choices about his own pro life?

Personally I think at age 9 the important things that sports teach our children are about being a team player, about learning to both win and lose gracefully, to have fun and be healthy. Far too many parents are so caught up in their kid's being "stars" I wonder if they forget about them just having fun! If this kid is so gifted, he'll do fine...for now I say...let him be a happy little boy having fun with his friends!

Good point but this kid has been handed the opportunity of a life time. Millions of kids all over Britain, Ireland and Europe dream of such a thing every night they go to bed. When i was a kid growing up in a council estate, all we ever done was play football from morning til night during the summer holidays. Even at christmas you would wish for a new football kit, new boots and a new football. Soon as you got up on christmas morning and you found out you got what you wished for, you were straight out of bed, new kit on and straight out the door to meet up with your mates, who were also sporting there new kits and played football until christmas dinner was ready. Now this was no luxury as the temps outside were hovering around the freezing mark and you were wearing something you could spit through and a pair of ill fitting shorts but this never stopped us playing such was the passion we felt for football at such a young age.

Obviously this kid has the same passion for football and hopefully his parents have nothing but the best of intentions for the wee lad. Signing for United will ensure that his football skills are honed and developed to the highest level and inturn he will recieve the highest standard in education. Hopefully all goes well for him and in ten years or so time he is delighting the world with his silky skills while playing the beautiful game