During the 2016/17 season, the likes of Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho – both then playing for Manchester City – had nowhere near the same publicity they experience today.
What were once two plucky English teenagers hoping to find their feet at one of the biggest enterprises in Europe are now some of the most notable names in the Premier League.
Sancho, 22, decided to roll the dice and went to Borussia Dortmund before making his name as a star and returning to the red half of Manchester, while Foden remained with his local club, grinding through the ranks and youth levels until blossoming under esteemed coach Pep Guardiola.
The pair faced off on Sunday in the Manchester derby, with 22-year-old Foden getting the better of Sancho as City stuffed United 6-3 in their Premier League showdown at the Etihad.
But what of their team-mates at the time? Did they slowly fade into obscurity or become great, Champions League and Europa League-competing players themselves? Well, the answer is: a bit of both, really. Here Daily Star Sport takes you through the Under-18s team-mates of Sancho and Foden and what they’ve gone on to achieve.
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Aro Muric
Aro Muric is a towering goalkeeper who enjoyed four years at City. Well, we say ‘enjoyed’ – really he only made five professional appearances for the side throughout his entire spell there.
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Most of his time at the Etihad was actually not at the Etihad at all, with loan spells at the likes of NAC Breda, Nottingham Forest, Girona, and Adana Demirspor. Now 23, the keeper is finding his feet at Championship side Burnley – where he has been handed 11 outings this season by former City defender and now Clarets boss Vincent Kompany.
Joel Latibeaudiere
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Joel Latibeaudiere might have a fantastic name – but his time at City was anything but. He joined the club aged 13, even captaining the Under-18s, but did not make a senior appearance during his time there.
In 2020, Latibeaudiere joined Swansea City on a three-year contract, where he has made 42 outings so far. This year, the defender was even called up to the Jamaica national side.
Tyreke Wilson
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After six years at City, full-back Tyreke Wilson is making his name in the League of Ireland, playing at Waterford before going to Bohemians.
It’s a stark contrast but Wilson says that he’s thoroughly enjoying himself over. He told the Irish Mirror: “If you take it easy and don’t work hard, you’ll be left behind and forgotten about. I don’t want to be that bloke in the pub who says ‘I could have done this, I could have done that’.
“All I know is that everyone finds their level one day and I’m just trying to do my best, work as hard as I can and see where it takes me. I’m happy and grateful to be at Bohs.”
Jeremie Frimpong
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The one that got away, even the most ardent City fan would struggle to deny that Jeremie Frimpong is one of the most exciting young full-backs in world football.
The former Celtic player spent nine years with the east Manchester side before moving on to feature for the Bhoys. Today, though, he’s a regular for Bayer Leverkusen, and earning plaudits despite their rocky form this season.
Matt Smith
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Matt Smith does not enjoy as a unique name as some others on this list and his time now playing as a midfielder for League One club Milton Keynes Dons probably does nothing to add any zing to this section.
Now a Wales international, Smith played for City for four seasons but did not manage to forge a way into the first-team. While at the Etihad, Smith had loan spells for sides such as Queens Park Rangers and FC Twente.
Iker Pozo
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Spanish midfielder Iker Pozo is the first on our list to still be with the side. Last campaign, Pozo was on loan at Croatian side Rijeka, but failed to make an appearance before being recalled after a month.
The No66 has not yet broken into the first team under Pep Guardiola but the maestro is perhaps one to keep an eye on given the length of time he’s been with the club.
Tom Dele-Bashiru
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Tom Dele-Bashiru remained at City through to the summer of 2019 before ending his 14-year association with the club after making just one senior appearance.
He moved to Watford on a free transfer, but the Nigeria Under-23s international has continued to struggle for first team opportunities with the Hornets and has yet to play this season after returning from a season-long loan spell at Reading.
Brahim Diaz
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Highly-rated by Guardiola and the City coaching staff, Spanish playmaker Brahim Diaz scored twice in 15 first team appearances before Real Madrid snapped him up for £15.3million in 2019.
He has since had more success in Italy with AC Milan, where he is currently into his third season on loan, although the Serie A champions do have now have an option to buy him next summer.
Felix Nmecha
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The first of the Nmecha brothers to appear on this list, Felix Nmecha only left City last summer to join Wolfsburg on a free transfer.
Having represented England at youth level in the past, Nmecha is now a Germany under-21 international with one goal in three caps and has also made 24 senior appearances for Wolfsburg since joining the Bundesliga club.
Ian Poveda
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After making just one appearance for City, winger Ian Poveda left the club on a free to join Leeds United in January 2020.
He has since had spells in and out of the first team fold at Elland Road and is currently away on loan for the second time, spending this season in the Championship with Blackpool.
Benjamin Garre
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The only player on this list to no longer be playing their football in Europe, Argentine winger Benjamin Garre returned to his homeland in January 2020.
Having signed for Racing Club, he has since scored three times in 23 first team appearances for the side, but is now out on loan at fellow top flight outfit Huracan until the end of next year.
Rabbi Matondo
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Welsh winger Rabbi Matondo was tipped for greatness during his time at City and headed to Schalke for other £8million in 2019 as he looked for more first team opportunities.
Loan spells at Stoke City and Cercle Brugge failed to help him break into the first team in Gelsenkirchen, though, and he joined Rangers for £2.7million back in July.
Lukas Nmecha
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Two years older than Felix, Lukas Nmecha also now plies his trade with Wolfsburg, having initially had a loan spell with the club in 2019/20 before joining permanently last summer.
Like his brother, he represented England at youth level before switching his allegiances to the country of his birth and has since won seven senior caps for Germany.
Bobby Duncan
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Best known for his controversial exit from Liverpool, Bobby Duncan left City to join the Reds in the summer of 2018.
The cousin of Steven Gerrard, Duncan departed Anfield for Fiorentina a year later before spending two years with Derby County. Still only 21, he currently plays for Real Balompedica Linense in the Spanish third division.
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