- Amir Ibragimov earns surprise senior call up
- Russia banned form 2026 World Cup
- Academy star has featured through the ranks at Manchester United
Things are looking good for men’s football at Manchester United this season at both the senior and academy levels.
The U18’s, managed by Darren Fletcher, will be featuring in an all-Manchester Youth Cup final this month. Meanwhile, the U21’s, currently under the care of Adam Lawrence, will be playing in the Premier League 2 final this Saturday (16 May) against Brighton U21.
One player who has technically featured at both levels is Amir Ibragimov.
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Russia Callup Made
According to Sport Witness, Ibragimov has received a surprise call-up to Russia’s national team for the next international break.
The nation will not be featuring in the 2026 World Cup, as an international ban was imposed after the country’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The 18-year-old has represented England at the U15 and U16 levels, last featuring in 2024. Despite Russia including him in their squad list, journalist Nathan Salt of the Daily Mail has suggested that United sources have not been contacted over this matter.
Ibragimov plays a winger, but is also capable of featuring as an attacking midfielder. Yet this season, he has featured more as a central midfielder as part of a duo or midfield three.
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Fastest Route to International Football
The 18-year-old has captained the U18 on multiple occasions, even earning a call-up to the U21 setup. He has featured 15 times for the Reds this season, scoring 4 goals and providing 2 assists.
From the player’s standpoint, his route to international football could be much easier playing for Russia than in England. Despite the ban on Russia, the national team still continues to play non-Western countries.
Ibragimov and his family moved from Dagestan to England, which is a republic of Russia in the North Caucasus region. Most sports personalities hailing from there move into combat sports, but Amir took a different path in United’s academy. His brother, Ibragim is a professional mixed martial arts fighter.
If the callup goes ahead, Ibragimov could feature against Egypt later this month. Alternatively, games against Burkina Faso and Trindad & Tobago in early June could be his other opportunities.
