Manchester United have agreed to sign Samuel Malama Lusale, a winger of Zambian descent, as their latest academy signing from Crystal Palace, according to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano.
The 16-year-old qualifies to represent Zambia through his father. However, he has already represented Slovakia, his mother’s country in the U-17 European Championship in Cyprus this summer.
Lusale is widely regarded as European football’s next big star, having been praised for his speed, relentless desire to beat defenders, and clever movement in the final third.
He spent last season at Selhurst Park, playing for Crystal Palace’s U-16 and U-18 teams.
Meanwhile, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) told BolaNews earlier this month that they have established a deliberate program to monitor a large number of European-born players of Zambian descent, and those who want to represent Chipolopolo will be given a chance.
In May of this year, Chipolopo coach Avram Grant stated that he is monitoring a list of players with Zambian roots in Europe, but the challenge is that they do not hold Zambian passports.
“We are now in the process of checking [some of these players], because you know, we want to have many players who play board in better leagues,” he said. “I know the leagues here, they make a lot of effort and everything, but still, it is not the level that we need. So we have a list of players that play out of Zambia and have Zambian roots but they don’t have [Zambian] passports.”
He added: “We are in the process of checking. I think we need more players. We don’t have enough players [playing abroad].
READ MORE: France-based star Jack Lahne reveals he wants to play for Zambia
