Celtic and Rangers have missed out on Aliou Traore with the Manchester United youngster sealing a season-long loan move to Caen, as confirmed via the Ligue 2 club’s official website.
The path from Manchester to Glasgow has been travelled quite frequently over the years but, after weeks of speculation, the so-called ‘new Paul Pogba’ will not be following in the footsteps of Patrick Roberts, Daniel Arzani, Jason Denayer and co.
France Football reported in June that Old Firm rivals Celtic and Rangers were both vying for the signature of Traore.
The 19-year-old Paris-born enforcer is a ‘tremendously gifted’ footballer’, according to United coach Nicky Butt, but has struggled to make the step up from U23 football to the first-team picture at Old Trafford.
But, given that neither Steven Gerrard nor Neil Lennon are hardly short of midfield options themselves, a short-term spell back home in France could prove to be the right decision – and the making of Traore.
“(Caen coach) Pascal (Dupraz) appreciates Aliou’s technical qualities – he is capable of recovering the ball but also of projecting himself and breaking lines,” recruitment chief Yohan Eudeline explains with the deal all wrapped up.
Speaking to RMC Sport last week, former PSG starlet Traore admitted that he wanted a chance to play regular first-team football after threatening to outgrow the relatively small pond that is reserve team football in Manchester.
And while Celtic and Rangers have a fine track record when it comes to giving youth a chance, he’d have had his work cut out ousting Ryan Jack, Glen Kamara, Ryan Christie, Olivier Ntcham and co north of the border.
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