“It is a hard decision when you are young.
“I cannot say it was the right decision, or the wrong decision. It is hard for me to say, but what I experienced in the year after Manchester United.
“I won the cup with Molde and then I got to play in the Premier League.”
It’s hard to make these decisions when you are a teenager who’s being headhunted by the best clubs in the world. However that’s exact;ly what a young Mats Møller Dæhli did 9 years ago when he rejected the red 2 times.
“I went on many trials from 12, 13 until I was 16,” he told MEN Sport. “I think it was four trials. It was really special, I had three very nice years there. It was tough, but I have really good memories and being there on trial and getting signed is an amazing feeling.”
The promising young star started out with Tottenham, trained with Chelsea as well but eventually signed with a regional club in his home country in Norway, Lyn.
At the age of 12 he was talent spotted by scout John Vik, who watched the youngster for a further 10 matches before using his contacts to recommend that United sign the young hopeful before other top sides became aware of his ability.
“I received tips about four extraordinary talents in the Oslo area four years ago. I saw everyone several times and thought Mats stood out already as a 12-year-old in Lyn,” Vik stated.
Vik was not the only Norwegian impressed by his compatriot. All those years after watching Ole Gunnar Solskjaer set up two of United’s five goals against Tottenham, the legendary striker was also well aware of Dæhli.
“I have seen Mats several times before, including at the Statoil Academy in Kristiansund,” Solskjaer said. “In my opinion, he is on a par with the greatest talents in other European levels in his age group. He has made a very good impression in United. They will bet on him.”
The youngster finished the season with the club’s U18 side before he was promoted to the reserve team for the next campaign and excitement grew surrounding the top teenage talent.