Manchester United's 'new Gareth Bale' ruled out for the season due to injury

Manchester United's promising youngster Bendito Mantato is expected to be sidelined for the rest of the season following an ankle injury sustained in the U21 squad.

Mantato, aged 18, encountered the issue after coming off the bench in the match between Manchester United U21 and Chelsea earlier this month. According to Manchester Evening News, the player is now wearing protective boots, and his season is effectively over.

Previously, Mantato had started in matches against Peterborough, Derby County, and Oxford United during the early stages of the competition. However, by the time United's U18 team defeated Sunderland in the quarter-finals, he was only present in the stands.

The Red Devils' U18 side is set to face Crystal Palace in the FA Youth Cup semi-final. If they advance, they could meet Manchester City in a mini-Manchester derby final at Etihad, but Mantato is likely to be absent.

Mantato is regarded as one of the most valuable gems in United's academy. Initially, he played as a left-back at youth levels before gradually transitioning to a winger. His playing style and developmental path have even been compared to stars like Gareth Bale and Bukayo Saka, who also started as defenders but excelled as wingers.

Last season, manager Ruben Amorim included Mantato in the first-team squad for both Europa League semi-final matches against Athletic Bilbao. Later, the young player continued to be called up for the preseason tour in the United States and made his first-team debut in the match against Wolves in December.

The product of United's academy will now focus on recovery to compete for a spot in the preseason tour squad this summer. The upcoming training camp is expected to feature more young players than usual, given the context of the World Cup.

Throughout his career, Mantato has represented England's youth teams at the U16, U17, and U18 levels.