It’s like something out of a modern day Roy of the Rovers comic.
Youngster makes his debut for local non-league side and ends up signing just weeks later for the most successful club in the land.
But that is exactly what has happened to Sadiq El Fitouri who, despite only having made his debut for Salford City three weeks ago, has just signed for Manchester United.
The 20-year-old was given his first start for the Northern Premier League club by stand-in managers at the time Phil Neville and Paul Scholes.
And the pair were so impressed with the Libya-born defender in a 2-1 win against Kendal Town that they tipped off their former team.
El Fitouri who was on the books at Manchester City only a few seasons ago, was given a trial at United and impressed during a training match at Carrington complex.
Salford City co-owner and ‘Class of 92’ legend Gary Neville took to Twitter and said: “Incredible story on @SalfordCityFC on Sadiq El Fitouri. Well done to Phil and Scholesy for showing belief in a lad who was out of the game!”
Phil and Scholesy gave him his @SalfordCityFC debut just 3 weeks ago and the boy has signed for United. #dreamscometrue
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) January 30, 2015
After only a week of training with the Red Devils, they offered the defender an 18-month contract, in the hope he will help boost the roster of the Under-21’s squad.
The right back said: “This is honestly a dream come true for me and I have to thank Salford City for the chance, as well as the faith they have shown in me.
“I am really looking forward to what happens next and to be given the opportunity to do so at Manchester United is unbelievable.”
Phil Neville said he hoped the whirlwind success of El Fitouri would be repeated with other promising youngsters from the Salford City stable.
He told the Salford City website: “We are immensely proud that our club has been able to give an opportunity to a boy who had the determination and passion to play without necessarily having the chances.
“What we are trying to do at Salford is to develop our own talent, nurture players and keep them at the club, however we also recognise that we cannot stand in the way of talented players playing at the highest level and that can only be a credit to how SCFC is progressing.”
