Ex-Man Utd wonderkid left amid Barcelona interest and now impressing in Europe

It was four years ago that Tosin Kehinde made the tough decision to leave Manchester United.

He was still just a kid at the time, 19 to be precise, but his performances at youth level for the Red Devils meant his name attracted plenty of attention.

Kehinde made his debut in United's reserve team at just 15, before team-mates who have all gone on to graduate to the first-team including Scott McTominay, Marcus Rashford, Axel Tuanzebe and Dean Henderson.

Big clubs both in England and abroad were linked with the versatile midfielder - but as a teenager embarking upon his first ever move, he found himself in a transfer whirlwind unlike anything he had ever experienced.

The most eye-catching link was Barcelona, a story Kehinde does not deny whilst still not entirely certain of the level of their interest.

"It was difficult because I was young and you don't quite know how transfers work," he explains.

"Being at United for all my career at that point, I'd never had to even consider a transfer so you don't really understand how it all works.

"There was a lot of interest, but interest doesn't necessarily always turn into concrete things. You'd hear a load of things, but for it to go anywhere you need more than that.

"It was getting to a point in the window where we had to make a decision, so it was nice to be linked with all these places but you have to take what's physically in front of you."

When the time came to leave United, Portuguese club CD Feirense was Kehinde's destination.

It is fair to say it was a somewhat surprising move for a player who had caught the eye at youth level.

There is no getting away from the fact it did not work out.

"I didn't have a great time in Portugal," he admits. "I didn't play a lot and I felt like I was a bit misled in terms of what they told me before I got there."

Whilst things did not work out in Portugal, the brave decision to leave United is one he doesn't regret.

"To be honest I was getting to a point where I just felt like development football was not the stage I needed," he reflects.

"At my age, I was 19 going on 20, I just felt I needed to get some league football and some experience under my belt.

"That was the main decision. United wanted to keep me on, but they didn't want me to go on loan and I didn't really understand that.

"I didn't see what the point of playing Under-23s for another year was, I didn't feel it would help me develop.

"I spoke to my family, and we all agreed I needed to start making my way on the footballing ladder so that was the decision we made."

It was not the first time Kehinde had left his comfort zone having arrived in Manchester from Nigeria as a six-year-old.

Even back then, football was all he knew and his over-riding passion.

"I think I've always liked football," he says. "There's a picture that my mum's got of me when I was only one or two, and I've got a football with me.

"For as long as anyone can remember, I've always just had a football.

"Back in Nigeria, from what I can remember before I left, I played football in our compound where we used to live with the neighbours and I played football in school.

"It was just something I picked up. In Nigeria we have a big culture of loving football and supporting the national team, so I think I picked it up from being with my family and watching the national team."

After moving to England, it did not take long for him to catch the eye of United scouts.

When he joined the club at Under-14s level, Kehinde become part of a particularly strong crop of United youngsters.

Kehinde, Rashford and Tuanzebe were, and still are, particularly close, with United's forward recently sharing a picture of the trio and James Dunne together in school uniform during their time together away from the pitch.

"There were quite a few of us in that group," he reflects. "We're all at different stages now, but the main core of us together for the most part was me, Axel and Marcus.

"Up until those two moved into the first-team, we were together from Under-14s to Under-18s and Under-23s.

"We spent a good chunk of our time together. Definitely good memories."

Whilst Rashford burst onto the first-team scene, Kehinde was also making an impact behind the scenes.

He was regularly called into first-team training sessions, first under Louis Van Gaal and then Jose Mourinho.

"I actually got called into the first-team a few times," he recalls.

"Even under Van Gaal, when Giggs was still there, I went over a few times and then being involved under Jose, it was the first or second year of Pogba being back, Zlatan was still around at the time.

"Training with those two was quite a big deal for me as a young player, it was just like 'wow'.

"It's your chance to try and impress. Of course you're a little bit nervous, but you have to remember you're there to do a job and try to make a good impression.

"There's no point going over and being over-awed by the whole thing then you're not able to show what you can do.

"Initially, you look around at these guys and you're like 'wow, OK', but then you have to concentrate and put your best foot forward."

Those are all amongst the lessons that have stood Kehinde in good stead as he finally looks to unlock the undoubted potential recognised by many as a youngster.

He found an escape from Portugal to Denmark in 2019, spending a season on loan at Randers.

That move became permanent in 2020, and it has proved a match made in heaven leading the club to Danish Cup success and the UEFA Europa Conference League.

"At the time when I came to Rangers on loan, it was at a point where I wasn't really enjoying football," he admits.

"It was a situation I wanted to get away from, and luckily I was able to go to Randers. It was difficult in the beginning, because I had to adjust to a new country, the way they play, the league and everything.

"But they made it very, very easy to do that. The people over here are very nice, very welcoming and they gave me a lot of assistance to feel comfortable.

"After the first half of the season, once I found my feet and got into the team, I just kicked on from there and we've got better and better.

"I'm really happy with where I am now and just hope me and the team can keep that going.

"When I first started playing at Randers I wouldn't have said we'd be playing in Europe and getting these opportunities.

"It shows how far we've come as a group, it's a great opportunity for all of us, and we're just trying to make sure we can keep it going and it doesn't stop here."

Still only 23, Kehinde has fulfilled his ambition of playing more senior football, racking up 80 appearances in the past three seasons.

As a player, he believes he has become a "self-starter" and far more adaptable than he once was as a result of his experiences.

"My journey so far has forced me to be a self-starter," he says. "In different situations you're forced to do things you're not necessarily comfortable with.

"A lot of training on your own, self-motivation and, at times when I wasn't playing, you have to try and keep that fire lit within yourself.

"On that side I've improved a lot, and in terms of my tactical understanding, I've played in three different countries now under different managers, in different systems.

"I think I've just had to learn how to figure out the game in terms of how to be effective no matter what system you're playing in or what sort of game it is. My game understanding is better.

"All-around, as a player and as a person, I think these last three years have helped me grow a lot which is what I wanted to do when I left United."

In the short term, the focus is on ending the season strongly - but Kehinde still holds dreams of kicking on to show leaving United for a more scenic route was the right way for him to get to the top.

"The dream for me now is just to go to the next level," he concludes.

"As a player, I think it's always important to believe in yourself and have confidence in your own ability.

"I know the type of player I am and I know what I can do, so it's just about getting the opportunities and taking your chance when it comes.

"Right now, I'll just put my head down and see what the future holds. It's about maximising my potential, because there's still a lot more I can do and that's got to come from me."