Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted that the club will always remain a place where young players are given an opportunity to showcase their talent.
Manchester United have a proud of history of nurturing young talent and England international Marcus Rashford is the latest young starlet to come out of their academy in recent years.
While Jose Mourinho sold and loaned out a few youngsters in the summer, Rashford has remained a key player for the club this season too, and Dutch defender Timothy Fosu-Mensah, another academy product, has also been included in the first team squad.
Speaking at a dinner hosted in honour of Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton, Ferguson said that Manchester United is and will continue to remain a place where youngsters will be given an opportunity.
And he feels the club’s identity will always be associated with nurturing young homegrown talents.
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The legendary Manchester United manager was quoted as saying by beIN Sport: "When I first came to United, Bobby wanted to replicate what happened in the Busby era of the young players coming through and winning five youth cups, which was unbelievable.
"Looking back, it's amazing the results we had and people will recognise Manchester United in many ways and especially about who the best players were.
"But believe me, the young players will always be the spirit of Manchester United.
"The essence of Manchester United without doubt is to give young people an opportunity at this club. Bobby Charlton absolutely believed in that and that's what I tried to do."
Manchester United have been naming at least one academy product in their matchday squads since October 1937, a run which has stretched to 3,811 consecutive games.
