Boadu: ”Manchester United has always been my dream club, I would love to play there”
A throwback! Diving into the archives where Life After Football speaks with… Myron Boadu! From explosive talent to frustrating injuries— Boadu’s journey has been anything but ordinary. Now finding his footing at VfL Bochum, the young striker seemed ready to reignite his career, only to face another setback with new injury troubles.
Boadu, a standout product of AZ Alkmaar’s renowned youth academy, made waves in the Eredivisie alongside Calvin Stengs and Guus Til. After impressing with AZ’s first team, the rapid striker moved to AS Monaco, where he shined in his debut season but later saw his playing time fluctuate. Now at VfL Bochum, he has netted 7 goals in 11 games, helping the club fight relegation—until injuries once again disrupted his momentum.
In AZ’s youth academy, Boadu was already regarded as one of the brightest talents in the Netherlands, attracting interest from top clubs both domestically and abroad.
Myron Boadu: “It was really amazing to hear that clubs like Manchester United and Arsenal were interested in me because you look up to players like Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Wayne Rooney. At the same time, it was difficult to handle that kind of attention as a young player. You start putting more pressure on yourself, which inevitably affects your game. I went to Arsenal once for a meeting, and I also had meetings with Ajax and PSV, but after discussing it with my parents and agents, I ultimately decided to stay at AZ. In Alkmaar, everything was well arranged, and there was a clear path for me to join the first team within a year and a half. I have always believed in myself, but at a big club, you never know for sure if you’ll get that opportunity. That’s why I chose to stay at AZ.”
As you were on the verge of breaking through, you suffered a major setback—a serious knee injury that sidelined you for months. How did that impact you emotionally and mentally?
“At that time, I was supposed to play in the European Championship with my age group. Before the tournament, I had already strained my knee. I hadn’t played a game since, but the coach still selected me. I came on as a substitute, made a move, and immediately felt something was wrong. But I could still walk after the game, so I thought it wasn’t too bad. Later, I had to get an MRI scan, and it revealed that I had torn my meniscus. I immediately called my mom, and that was the moment I broke down emotionally. My parents weren’t with me, and I had no idea what was going to happen. My agents, Mino Raiola and José Fortes Rodriguez, quickly decided that I should go to the U.S. for surgery and rehabilitation.”
During this recovery process, you trained with Zlatan. How was that experience, and what was your connection like?
“Because Mino and José weren’t happy with the way I was training, they sent me to the U.S. to train with Zlatan. They wanted me to experience how training at the top level really works. I was quite nervous before meeting Zlatan, but after our first interaction, that was completely gone. He shook my hand and told me we would come back stronger. What surprised me the most was how kind Zlatan actually is. I got to train with him for six days and had some incredible moments with him. He also taught me a few things. For example, he made me realize how hard I need to work to achieve what he has. Thanks to Zlatan, I was able to change my mindset.”
Which club do you think best suits your playing style as a striker? The legendary ‘Tiki Taka’ of Barcelona, the fast-paced Premier League, or somewhere else?
“Manchester United has always been my dream club. I would love to play there one day. Their style of play fits me well, and it’s the kind of football I enjoy. But I also think I could score 20 to 25 goals at Barcelona.”
Which footballer is your biggest inspiration?
“When I was younger, Thierry Henry was my ultimate role model, but now I really admire strikers like Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski. If you’re a striker and don’t mention Lewandowski, you don’t get it, haha. Erling Haaland and Harry Kane are also phenomenal. Those are the four strikers I look up to, and I study their playing styles closely.”
Want to read more? Check out our interview with Jurriën Timber about his style!
