Shola Shoretire, Manchester United's richest player who modelled his game on Lionel Messi, arrives in Greece to sign for PAOK
Shola Shoretire is close to sealing a free transfer to Greek champions PAOK.
The 20-year-old, who joined the Red Devils Academy in 2013, he has opted to leave Old Trafford after finding it difficult to get first-team opportunities.
He made history for United in February 2021 following his appearance against Real Sociedad in the Europa League when, aged just 17 years and 23 days, he became the club's youngest player to feature in Europe – a record which still stands three years later.
But that outing was just one of five games Shoretire played for the senior team, under coach Erik the Hag freezing him out of action.
His last appearance for United came on the final day of the 2021/22 season against Crystal Palace.
In two seasons with Ten Hag in charge at Old Trafford, Shoretire was on the bench for a top-flight game just once.
Once pursued by Barcelona, Bayern MunichJuventus and Paris Saint-Germain, Shoretire snubbed foreign interest in Sign a new agreement at Theatre of Dreams in 2021.
But Shoretire, who enjoyed a loan spell at Bolton in the second half of the 2022/23 campaign, will now finally be tested on foreign shores.
It will connect with PAOKwho beat AEK Athens and Olympiacos last season to win their second league title in five years.
A video of the youngster landing in Greece, where he was greeted by PAOK fans at the airport, appeared on social media.
And Shoretire will be desperate to showcase his talents in the Super League, where he says fans can expect a similar style to that of Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho.
Speaking to United website In 2021, Shoretire revealed that he models his game after Barcelona legends.
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He said: “The people I admired were my favourite players, Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho.
“I think I've tried to play my game like theirs, quite technical and a good all-round player.”
Shoretire will be the fourth Englishman to play for PAOK after Chuba Akpom, Mike Small and talkSPORT's Micky Quinn.
And he will be looking to emulate Akpom's success at the club, with the now Ajax striker winning the league and cup double in his first season.
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