“This is the problem this club has and its because if him. He had the chance to sign this boy. The boy wanted to play here after his trials here. We could have signed him instead of Tottenham”- Fabrizio Romano reveals that Lucas Bergvall was blocked from signing for Man Utd after two trials because of one man at Manchester who has been blocking amazing young talents to join Manchester United.
Lucas Bergvall’s story sheds light on Manchester United’s questionable recruitment strategies, as the Swedish midfielder flourishes at Tottenham Hotspur. Despite two promising trials with United, the 18-year-old, now making waves in English football, never joined the club. His dramatic late goal against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg showcased the talent United let slip away.
Bergvall’s journey to Tottenham began in July 2024 when they signed him from Djurgarden for £8.5 million. However, his connection with United dates back to 2020, during his time at IF Brommapojkarna. At just 15, Bergvall impressed in a trial, positioning himself for a potential £1.5 million transfer. Unfortunately, Brexit regulations that restricted English clubs from signing overseas players under 18 derailed the move. United, anticipating these changes, shifted focus to signing other prospects, including Alejandro Garnacho and Marc Jurado, leaving Bergvall overlooked.
A second trial in 2022 reignited United’s interest, with the midfielder standing out by providing an assist in a youth match. However, a change in recruitment priorities, driven by new staff, halted negotiations once again. This opened the door for Tottenham, who seized the opportunity and integrated Bergvall into their squad.
By January 2025, Bergvall had already proven his value with his decisive performance against Liverpool, earning praise from Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou. Highlighting his work ethic and tactical intelligence, Postecoglou’s comments underscored United’s misstep in letting such talent slip away. Football journalist Fabrizio Romano added that Bergvall was eager to join United, but their indecision cost them dearly.
Meanwhile, United’s current struggles under manager Ruben Amorim only magnify this missed opportunity. The team sits 13th in the Premier League, battling inconsistency and underperformance, with senior players like Casemiro facing uncertain futures. The absence of young, energetic talents like Bergvall has exposed deeper flaws in United’s recruitment and development strategies.
This saga symbolizes United’s broader challenges. Once renowned for nurturing homegrown stars like Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, the club now faces systemic issues in identifying and securing emerging talent. Bergvall’s creativity and dynamism, qualities lacking in United’s current midfield, could have significantly bolstered their squad. Instead, Tottenham has benefited from his potential.
United’s failure to sign Bergvall highlights a combination of Brexit regulations, internal restructuring, and a lack of strategic foresight. Romano’s critique reflects the frustrations of fans who see these repeated oversights as detrimental to the club’s long-term ambitions.
Bergvall’s success at Tottenham serves as a cautionary tal
e for United.
