Tom Ince has shared details about how close he came to joining Manchester United, following in his father’s footsteps.
Manchester United’s youth setup has several familiar names, with current academy players often being children of former players.
Darren Fletcher’s twins recently graduated from the academy, while both Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick have sons rising through the ranks.
It remains unclear if Kai Rooney or Jacey Carrick will secure professional contracts at Old Trafford, but there’s considerable anticipation about their future potential.
Tom Ince recalls near miss with United as a youth player
Long before Tom Ince made his mark in the Championship, he garnered attention from a young age.
His father, Paul Ince, was a prominent midfielder for United in the early 90s. Known as the ‘Guv’nor,’ he left Old Trafford for Inter Milan and later joined Liverpool.
Despite numerous links to United, Tom never joined the club. After his time in Liverpool’s academy, he began his career with Blackpool and later played for Hull City, Derby County, Huddersfield Town, Stoke City, Reading, and Watford.
Ince mentioned that when he left Tranmere for Liverpool at age 12, United had also expressed interest.
Tom Ince’s Record Against Manchester United
Ince faced United six times in his career, starting with a loan at Crystal Palace and recording just one win among five losses.
His sole victory came in 2017 when Huddersfield Town triumphed 2-1 over United.
Although he didn’t score in any of those encounters, Ince provided an assist while playing for Reading.
As he returns to the Championship, it’s uncertain if he will compete against United again.