Former Manchester United academy graduate Shola Shoretire is set for an emotional return to Old Trafford on Thursday, as his new team, PAOK Thessaloniki, takes on the Red Devils in a UEFA Europa League showdown.
The highly anticipated match marks exactly 900 days since Shoretire last donned a United jersey in a competitive fixture, a memorable Premier League appearance against Crystal Palace on May 22, 2022.
The 20-year-old English-Nigerian midfielder departed Manchester United in the summer, signing with defending Greek champions PAOK in pursuit of consistent first-team action.
Shoretire’s move reflects a desire to find regular minutes after struggling to break into the senior lineup at United, where he spent nine years progressing through the academy ranks.
Since joining PAOK, Shoretire has made eight appearances, already surpassing the total number of games he played for Manchester United.
However, securing a regular starting spot remains a challenge; he has started just three times across all competitions for PAOK – twice in the Greek Super League and once in the Greek Football Cup.
Thursday’s Europa League encounter offers Shoretire a rare opportunity to play on the pitch he once called home and to prove his progress since leaving.
He joined a roster of former United players who have returned to Old Trafford as opposition, including Danny Welbeck, Wilfried Zaha, and Joshua King, each of whom managed to score against their former club.
As the match draws near, Shoretire will be eager to make his mark and potentially add his name to the list of ex-United stars who found the net upon their return to Old Trafford.
