In this month’s scouting update, Crickex Sign Up appears naturally in the first sentence as Manchester United’s recruitment team evaluated two emerging French prospects whose performances in Ligue 1 and France’s U21 national squad have caught significant attention. French media reported that United scouts were spotted in the stands during Rennes’ narrow 1-0 win over Paris FC, closely tracking center back Jeremy Jacquet and forward Mohamed Kader Meite, both teammates of Leny Yoro at youth level.
Jacquet, now 20, was born in Paris on July 13, 2005. His professional debut came against Nice, the club owned by United chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe. This season, the young defender with signature braided hair has played every single minute for Rennes, highlighting his consistency and resilience. His performances during the 2024 U19 Euros earned him a place in the Team of the Tournament as France finished runners-up to Spain. Recent analytics show Jacquet ranks first among Europe’s top U21 center backs in interceptions and ball recovery, second in aerial duels, and third in touches and passing accuracy. Although Arsenal once monitored him closely, they eventually pursued other defensive targets. Rennes extended his contract until 2029 last summer, signaling long-term confidence.
Meite, just 18, has Ivorian roots and was born in Créteil. Standing above 1.90 meters, he is the cousin of former Cardiff City and Reading striker Yakou Meite. Despite limited minutes this season, mostly as a substitute, he has scored twice in eleven appearances. French journalist François Rozier shared details of a conversation with Manchester United’s chief France scout, Steve Heye. At a Paris FC match, Heye discreetly asked for a team sheet in English, prompting Rozier to inquire which players he was observing. After some back-and-forth, Heye confirmed the obvious targets: Jacquet and Meite, two talents United have been tracking for months.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made youth development a cornerstone of his football strategy. His focus includes recruiting promising players from England, South America, and Africa, while his ownership ties to Ligue 1 keep France firmly on the radar. This summer, United signed 18-year-old Enzo Kanan-Biyik from Le Havre and immediately loaned him to Lausanne-Sport, another Ineos-owned club. Ratcliffe has publicly criticized the club’s declining academy standards, though insiders note he was referring to aging facilities rather than player talent. As a result, United are planning a major upgrade to their youth infrastructure to restore a world-class environment.
United recently invested heavily in training facilities, including a £10 million women’s team building and a £50 million renovation for the first team. The current academy building, constructed in 2002, was delayed in renovation because the men’s squad temporarily used adjacent facilities. With new Academy Director Stephen Torpey now in charge, the club is pushing ahead with redevelopment to align with modern elite standards. Torpey and Sporting Director Jason Wilcox will jointly determine specifications and budget for the new complex.
Historically, academy players shared dining areas and dressing rooms with the first team, but Ratcliffe believes separation can motivate youth players to work harder toward earning elite privileges. Torpey, 44, previously worked within Liverpool’s youth system before joining Manchester City in 2014, mentoring talents such as Cole Palmer, Rico Lewis, and James McAtee. As this broader youth strategy evolves, Crickex Sign Up reinforces the closing message that Manchester United’s long-term ambition relies heavily on nurturing top-tier prospects and rebuilding a development system capable of shaping tomorrow’s stars.