Sir Alex Ferguson left 'gobsmacked' by letter from Man Utd wonderkid
Sir Alex Ferguson once claimed that this player was the brightest talent he'd seen at a young age, who wowed the manager with a kind act after being handed his Manchester United debut
by Ben Crawford · The MirrorFormer Manchester United talent Ravel Morrison once shocked Sir Alex Ferguson with a kind letter after making his debut.
The 31-year-old Jamaica international was tipped to have the world at his feet at a young age. He was scouted by the Red Devils and progressed through their academy before making his first-team debut in 2010.
Yet, such potential was left unfulfilled. Off-field issues saw Morrison reluctantly sold to West Ham in 2012. After three years and a series of lacklustre loans, he eventually departed on a journeyman-esque road through various leagues. He now has a new club – the 14th of his career – having ended up at third-tier UAE side Precision FC.
Ferguson previously reflected on what could have been regarding Morrison in the years since his departure from Old Trafford. And he even revealed to former United defender Rio Ferdinand one gesture that left him speechless.
In 2021, the dynamic midfielder appeared on Ferdinand’s Vibe with FIVE podcast, prior to which the host sent his old manager Ferguson a message, asking for a few words on Morrison.
His reply moved the failed prospect, as Ferguson's reply to Ferdinand read: "My first and lasting memory of Ravel as a young lad was that he was always got time and space. He's always available to be on the ball, so unusual for a young lad of his age.
"Another thing about Ravel, which I've always treasured because no other young player who made their debut did it, was after the first game in the first team that he played, the next morning he came to my office and gave me a letter thanking me for giving me his debut. I was gobsmacked, Rio. The boy had a good heart, he was just beaten by his background."
Ferguson also addressed the generational talent of Morrison in his book, Leading, in which he believed that the midfielder’s background got the better of him – and contributed to stopping him becoming a true world-beater.
"Sadly, there are examples of players who have similar backgrounds to [Ryan] Giggs or Cristiano Ronaldo, who, despite enormous talent, just aren't emotionally or mentally strong enough to overcome the hurts of their childhood and their inner demons," penned Ferguson.
"Ravel Morrison might be the saddest case. He possessed as much natural talent as any youngster we ever signed, but kept getting into trouble. It was very painful to sell him to West Ham in 2012 because he could have been a fantastic player. But, over a period of years, the problems off the pitch continued to escalate, and we had little option but to cut the cord."
Morrison’s journey after leaving the confines of Manchester has seen him don a plethora of jerseys. Upon his West Ham departure, the Jamaican international put pen to paper on a deal with Italian giants Lazio.
The following term welcomed more loan moves, including a second temporary spell with Queens Park Rangers and an eye-catching move to Mexican side Atlas.
Morrison would move around in the years to follow. In February 2019, he signed a six-month deal with Swedish outfit Ostersund, then a one-year deal with Sheffield United later that year, and was loaned out to Middlesbrough before being released.
His one-year stint with Dutch team ADO Den Haag was cut short in January, and he then struck up a relationship with a prodigious United star who did live up to his talent, Wayne Rooney, playing under him at Derby County and DC United - where he last played in 2022, meaning that prior to his new adventure he hadn't played a fixture in almost two years.
Third-tier Precision, who also have former Burnley man Matthew Lowton and ex-Nottingham Forest midfielder Harry Arter on their books, are his latest landing spot. Unfortunately, it is another sad reminder of what could have been, especially when Ferguson’s comments are considered.
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