Manchester United's Nine Year Old Soccer Sensation

Manchester United recently signed its newest soccer sensation. But you will not find immediate comparisons to David Beckham running rampant among ManchesterU fans. It will be some time before this soccer prodigy is able place his foot in a Manchester United uniform. See, Rhain Davis is only nine years old.

With over eight hundred thousand viewers watching footage on Rhain Davis on Youtube in the last month or so, Manchester United club owners were intrigued enough with his ball skills and foot speed to sign the young Australian to a contract that allows Manchester to place Davis in a specialized developmental course. While it will be some time before Rhain Davis plays for Manchester United the circumstances around his signing are no less dramatic.

With four minutes of footage, Rhain Davis' grandfather uploaded the footage to Youtube where his dribbling and goal-scoring ability were put on display. With so many eyes catching the young, talented Australian, someone from a pro team was eventually going to get a glimpse of him. After Manchester United scouts saw the footage, the decision was made to bring Davis on board.

While comparisons to Wayne Rooney have begun to emerge, Manchester officials have been quick to dispel them. Rooney came to international prominence in 2002 when he became the youngest scorer in the English Premiere League when he scored at the age of 16. Unable to sign a professional contract, he was able to meander through the maze and become available for significantly less than the normal league players. Today, Rooney is one of the most recognized soccer players in the world and Australians are hoping that Rhain Davis follows a similar path to stardom.

Rhain Davis has been involved in soccer since a young age. He and his father have already begun to make Cheshire home with his mother and other siblings soon to follow. While in Australia, he played for a Brisbane based club, the Redlands United. He also trained at the Moreto Bay Boys College where he was coached by Diana Pratchett.

While Rhain Davis' agreement to join the Manchester United developmental club is a tremendous achievement. Davis is not alone in his youth. According to United club officials, they sign over forty players a year under the age of twelve. That is a sign of their commitment to spotting and developing young talent that has the potential to become dynamic soccer players in the future. Accordingly, Rhain Davis will not receive any preferential treatment. According to Manchester United rules, he will be the subject of an annual player review like every other developmental club player.

Now that Rhain Davis has left the Brisbane under-10 league team and joined the Manchester United youth squad in England he gets to meet players like Wayne Rooney. An added bonus must be, being able to be closer to his grandfather who lives in England. In fact Davis was born in England and maintained a British passport. So, it was a coming home of sorts of the gifted soccer star in the making.

According to English press, Davis has already mastered some soccer moves a child his age would find almost impossible to even attempt. The samba-styled stepover, done by Christiano Renaldo, another Manchester United player is included in the video. As well as a level of ball control that a player his age should not have.

For the next three years, Rhain Davis will have his ball skills honed at the Manchester United youth academy. If his skills continue to grow and he makes the under-12 team he will be ensured a full scholarship to Old Trafford as well as continued coaching and mentoring by some of soccer's greatest coaches.