For all of Manchester United's storied success in developing young talent and seeing them go on to become legends of the club, countless more have failed to do so. Regardless of how much promise they showed.
It's a natural part of the game. Be it through injuries, attitude, not realising potential or any other series of uncontrollable circumstances, more often than not a youngster in a professional academy does not go on to become a professional. That's true for every club across the planet. Even for those who get that far at United, there is no guarantee they will become a star at Old Trafford.
For every Paul Scholes, Marcus Rashford and David Beckham, there are plenty more James Weirs, Tyler Blacketts, Ravel Morrisons, Federico Machedas, James Wilsons and Tom Thorpes who slip through the cracks and, even if they go on to have respectable careers elsewhere, never quite live up to their early potential. Shola Shoretire could still end up on either list.
