Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has openly confessed his astonishment at the remarkable ascent of Morgan Rogers, the England international winger he sold while managing Middlesbrough. Carrick's admission comes ahead of a crucial Premier League clash where his United side will face Rogers' Aston Villa at Old Trafford this Sunday.
From Middlesbrough to England Stardom
Carrick played a pivotal role in Rogers' early career development, orchestrating a £2 million transfer from Manchester City to Middlesbrough. Merely a year later, in 2024, Aston Villa secured Rogers' services for a significantly increased fee of £15 million. This transaction has proven to be exceptionally fruitful for the player and his new club.
Exceeding All Expectations
"It is fantastic for him to see Morgan going on to do so well and for a good period of time," Carrick reflected. "He had the initial signing in the January, and I wasn't really sure how it was going to go. It was a big step for him. He hadn't played for an awful long time at Middlesbrough so I felt he could have done with a little bit more."
Carrick continued, emphasizing the unexpected nature of Rogers' breakthrough: "But to see him go on and have such an impact would be probably more than I would have expected or probably more than Morgan himself would have expected. It is great to see though. I enjoy seeing him do so well."
Rogers' Meteoric Rise at Villa Park
Since joining Aston Villa, Rogers has transformed into a cornerstone of their squad, earning the prestigious Player of the Year award for the previous season. His performances have been so compelling that he has accumulated twelve caps for the England national team, even displacing global superstar Jude Bellingham from the starting lineup on occasion.
Carrick acknowledged the visible potential he initially identified: "You could always see what he was possibly going to be capable of. The potential in terms of his attributes, the way he carries the ball, he can play off his left foot, play off his right foot, create and score goals and really good athletically. So there were a lot of things there when we took him to start with."
Mount Returns for United
In team news for the upcoming match, Carrick provided an update on Manchester United's squad. Mason Mount, who has made only a single appearance under Carrick's management, has returned to training and is in contention for Sunday's fixture. "Mason's back with the group, which is fantastic. He is an important player for us. To have him back involved is a good step for us," Carrick stated.
He tempered expectations slightly, noting: "He is not 100 percent, because he has only trained a small amount of time, but he is back. That is good for us. We will see if he is involved or not on Sunday. It is a big step for him and we are happy with that." However, defenders Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt remain unavailable due to injury.
Despite his professional admiration for Rogers' achievements, Carrick concluded with a competitive note: "To come up against him is a different story. Nevertheless, he is a good person, great to work with so I am delighted he has done so well." The stage is now set for a compelling reunion at Old Trafford.
