Fosu-Mensah: My Request For Blind

Tim Fosu-Mensah has revealed how he looked up to future Manchester United team-mate Daley Blind as a youngster - and how he requested a pair of his old boots!

The duo both came up through the ranks of Ajax's famous youth system and Fosu-Mensah keenly monitored the progress of Blind, who is eight years his senior.

In an exclusive interview with Inside United, Fosu-Mensah, who recently signed a new contract with the Reds, told a memorable tale of the time he took possession of Blind's boots but couldn't wear them.

"When I was 14, we would ask the players if we could have their boots and I asked Daley for his," recalled Tim. "His feet were so small and I had much bigger feet than him at the time! [Laughs] I still took them though.

"I can remember watching Daley play for the Ajax second team. At that time I think I was with the Under-14s or Under-15s. And another time I remember him playing for the Under-19s and it was when they had to win to be the champions.

"After that he went to Groningen on loan and later when I was 15 or 16 a lot of the time I was a ball-boy at the stadium [for the first-team games] so I watched him play many times and close up. I was ball-boy most of the times he played left-back so I was very near to him and I could see he was a good player."

Versatile, brave and tough, 'Fosu-Immensah', as he has been dubbed by some fans, caught the eye from the off on his first-team debut for United in February 2016. After originally beginning his senior career at left-back, he has also impressed at centre-back, right-back and in midfield. The man himself attributes his adaptability to his education at Ajax and it’s a trait he believes can help him go far with the Reds.

"If the manager needs me at centre-back I will play centre-back, but if he needs me in midfield or at full-back of course I’ll play there," insisted the 18-year-old.

"I have played in all the positions so as soon as you play in one it feels normal. The manager hasn’t said to me ‘you’re a right-back or you’re a midfielder’ but whenever he needs me I’ll be ready.

"It's great to work with all the players here, especially the experienced ones. You train with them every day so you can see what they’re doing and talk to them. The older players speak with you and help you, especially Michael [Carrick], he speaks with me a lot and just gives me help with the little things. The team spirit we have here is great."