Meet Shea Lacey: The Scouse Messi Turning Heads at Manchester United

Imagine a three-year-old kid, not much taller than the football at his feet, executing Ronaldinho’s signature ‘Elastico’ dribble with ease. That kid was Shea Lacey, and by the age of four, he had already become a part of Manchester United’s junior ranks.

Fast forward 14 years, and Lacey is now an exciting prospect at Old Trafford, dazzling fans with his silky skills for the Under-18s. He got his first taste of senior football on United’s post-season Asian tour last season, and just last week, he began pre-season training with Ruben Amorim’s side. Now, he’s set to take part in the Premier League’s Summer Series in the United States, where he’ll have the chance to dazzle a larger audience with his audacious dribbling skills.

From Liverpool to Manchester

Despite coming from a family of die-hard Liverpool fans, Lacey has been a Red Devil at heart since his early days at the academy. His father, a former Liverpool academy player, and his elder brothers, Paddy and Luis, who have played professionally and in youth systems respectively, saw Shea’s potential from the start.

“Shea could do the Ronaldinho flip flap when he was three years old. That was his little trick,” Paddy tells GOAL. “He’s well known for it where we live in Liverpool. Then he started doing it at Man United and everywhere.”

The Big Break

After competing in youth tournaments against the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Juventus, Lacey routinely returned home clutching the Player of the Tournament trophy. His performances soon became too exceptional to ignore.

His first goal for the U18s was a stunning long-range strike against Wolves when he was just 15. He continued to impress, scoring five goals and five assists across 19 appearances in his first two seasons with the U18s, despite missing several months due to injury.

The Next… Phil Foden?

Lacey has been likened to Lionel Messi for his dribbling skills, but his brother sees more of Phil Foden in him. “The running action, the way they take the ball is very similar. He is the one I see the most similarities with,” Paddy says.

What Comes Next?

Lacey is all set to play for United’s U21s next season, but he’s got his eyes firmly set on making it into Amorim’s first team. There are no plans for him to go out on loan, and United’s five pre-season matches are the perfect opportunity for him to showcase his talent.

“Shea seems to think he is [ready for the first team]. When he has trained, he has said that he’s doing well, so he seems confident of forcing a way in at some point,” Paddy says.

Paddy offers off-field advice to his younger brother, highlighting the importance of attitude, punctuality, and professionalism. “He lives the life. What I was up to at 18, you know, going out and drinking, it was just daft. He is just the complete opposite, he lives a boring life but he’s happy living it and you’ve got to, to be one of those top, top players in the Premier League,” Paddy says.

With his skills on the pitch and his dedication off it, Lacey is a name to watch out for in the coming seasons. If his progress continues, we might just see the Anfield crow