Universidad de Chile forward will play his last game for the team Wednesday.
Ángelo Henríquez was formally confirmed as Manchester United’s latest signing Tuesday after the Universidad de Chile center forward was awarded a work permit.
“United has announced that Ángelo Henríquez has been granted a governing body endorsement which will allow the striker to register and play for the club,” Manchester United said in a statement on their official website.
“The 18-year-old will play his final game for Universidad de Chile against Santos on Wednesday and a further announcement on him joining the Reds will be made in due course,” it added.
A US$5.5 million deal was agreed for the transfer of Henríquez a week earlier, with the last bureaucratic hurdles being completed Tuesday afternoon.
Henríquez has already expressed his joy at becoming the first Chilean to sign for the most decorated club in Premier League history, calling it a “dream come true.”
With a star-studded front line already plying their trade at Manchester United, most pundits believe the young forward will have to bide his time before he is an established member of the Red Devil’s starting line-up.
Still, Henríquez said he is optimistic of his potential to make an immediate impact early on in his European career.
“If I go to Manchester United, it is to play,” the hotly-tipped striker told El Mercurio. “The club has to play in many tournaments, so I will have the opportunity to rack up minutes in the first team.”
“Everyone knows that Universidad de Chile is the team of my life,” he added in an emotional farewell to fans. “But I could not pass up this opportunity to play for Manchester United.”
His remarks come after Universidad de Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli publicly criticized the transfer, saying it was “not the right time or the right way” for Henríquez to leave the club.
Henríquez is the most high profile of nine Chileans who made moves in Europe this transfer window, to clubs that range from Spain’s Sevilla, to Neftci Baku in Azerbaijan.
By Miles Coleman (coleman@santiagotimes.cl)
Copyright 2012 - The Santiago Times
Ángelo Henríquez was formally confirmed as Manchester United’s latest signing Tuesday after the Universidad de Chile center forward was awarded a work permit.
“United has announced that Ángelo Henríquez has been granted a governing body endorsement which will allow the striker to register and play for the club,” Manchester United said in a statement on their official website.“The 18-year-old will play his final game for Universidad de Chile against Santos on Wednesday and a further announcement on him joining the Reds will be made in due course,” it added.
A US$5.5 million deal was agreed for the transfer of Henríquez a week earlier, with the last bureaucratic hurdles being completed Tuesday afternoon.
Henríquez has already expressed his joy at becoming the first Chilean to sign for the most decorated club in Premier League history, calling it a “dream come true.”
With a star-studded front line already plying their trade at Manchester United, most pundits believe the young forward will have to bide his time before he is an established member of the Red Devil’s starting line-up.
Still, Henríquez said he is optimistic of his potential to make an immediate impact early on in his European career.
“If I go to Manchester United, it is to play,” the hotly-tipped striker told El Mercurio. “The club has to play in many tournaments, so I will have the opportunity to rack up minutes in the first team.”
“Everyone knows that Universidad de Chile is the team of my life,” he added in an emotional farewell to fans. “But I could not pass up this opportunity to play for Manchester United.”
His remarks come after Universidad de Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli publicly criticized the transfer, saying it was “not the right time or the right way” for Henríquez to leave the club.
Henríquez is the most high profile of nine Chileans who made moves in Europe this transfer window, to clubs that range from Spain’s Sevilla, to Neftci Baku in Azerbaijan.
By Miles Coleman (coleman@santiagotimes.cl)
Copyright 2012 - The Santiago Times
About the writer
Miles Coleman
Miles was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and, despite moving to London at a young age, still supports the Springboks over England. He is currently in his third year of undergraduate studies at Bristol University, doing Spanish and Portuguese. As well as writing for the Santiago Times he also writes for Erudition Online in the UK, as well as occasionally contributing to The Guardian Online. He is currently on his year abroad in Chile, practicing being a journalist. He once scored a 30 yard volley in a practice football game for the Badock B Team. Manchester United are said to be interested in his services.
Most Read News
- Legendary Chilean folk rockers perform 50th anniversary show
- Chilean union leader calls for national strike of copper workers
- Penguins and sea lions found dead on Chilean shore
- Controversy in Chile over plans to export melting glaciers to Qatar
- Soccer roundup: Unión Española lead pack with only two games to go
- Chilean cult leader’s family blame mental illness, drugs and Satan