Manchester United have fought off competition from Premier League rivals to win the race for Ajax Under-17 captain Millen Baars, according to the player’s father.
Baars – not to be confused with former Liverpool striker Milan Baroš – had been targeted by Arsenal, among other clubs.
But the teenager’s father, Stefan, told Dutch publication Noordhollands Dagblad that Millen was only going to choose one club once the offer to join United was on the table.
United are favourites to sign 16 yr old Millen Baars of Ajax. Millen Baars also happens to be what Wayne Rooney does on England duty HUZZAH! pic.twitter.com/e7E554QJne
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) December 2, 2016
“Ajax is a great club with a very good youth, but they can unfortunately not cope so very well,” Stefan Baars said, as translated by Goal.
“You saw in the past with other youth players who now play at other clubs. But Millen was ready for a different challenge.
“He played nine seasons in Amsterdam and he has always had the dream to play football in England at Manchester United.”
Plenty of Ajax youth products have ended up in the Premier League, with Danish duo Christian Eriksen and Viktor Fischer currently plying their trade at Tottenham and Middlesbrough respectively.
Baars was also linked with Arsenal, but his father said “his choice was made” as soon as Manchester United was an option.
He will join up with Kieran McKenna’s United Under-18 squad along, where compatriot Tahith Chong already plays his football.
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