MANCHESTER UNITED fans have been warned they already have the next Wayne Rooney on their hands.
Rooney was just 16 when he broke into the Premier League for Everton, scoring a famous goal for Everton.
Two years later he joined United and an iconic career would follow: he left as a club legend and all-time top scorer.
These days, however, the glory years at Old Trafford are long gone, with the Red Devils struggling for form and in desperate need of some inspiration.
But MMA star Ibragim Ibragimov – whose three siblings all play for United – suggested 16-year-old brother Amir as the man for the job.
Ibragimov told SunSport: “My brother is the next big thing, I told everyone that.
“He is ready for the first team, he just needs the chance. As soon as he gets the chance, inshallah he will make it 100 percent this year.”
“They compare him to Wayne Rooney, so he becomes the next Wayne Rooney. A better version than Wayne Rooney.”
Amir, 16, Gazik, 15, and Muhammad, 12, are all products of United's youth team and are touted for big futures.
Gazik once played with Cristiano Ronaldo's son, while Wayne Rooney's eldest Kai is an academy teammate.
And even Old Trafford icon Sir Alex Ferguson has thrown his support behind Amir, who has also scored for England at Under-16 level.
Ibragimov said: “They need young, fresh blood. They need more academy players.
“They have a lot of academy players at the moment, very good, they like dark horses and they are on the bench.
“Some guys are already on the bench, some guys are playing for the academy, they have a good team.
“So yeah, hopefully they get youngsters playing for the first team and then they show the level of Manchester.”
Ibragimov moved from Dagestan, where UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov hailed, to Manchester at the age of 13.
And the 20-year-old was a talented footballer himself who had trials with Man City and Sheffield United before focusing solely on MMA.
He said: “I used to play football. I think if I had come to Britain a little bit earlier I would have got 100 per cent in football.
“I did both and did well, so I could have played football and of course I decided to do MMA.
“I don't know, but sometimes because I'm heavy I think, 'I should have played football!'
“Because the way my brother lives, all they need is train, eat, sleep, repeat, all they need, they don't need anything else.
“They get good food. They don't have to leave. They just have to train.
“They say concentrate, concentrate and then just go into the stadium and play and enjoy it.”
Ibragimov is 8-0 in the cage and will run back against 5-1 Irishman Kenny Mokhonoana on Saturday in Dubai.
And the avid United fan has promised to finally give Red Devils fans something to cheer about.
He said: “All the boys from Manchester who supported me, I appreciate everything.
“Guys, stay tuned, on January 25 I will bring victory for Manchester and Manchester United.”
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