Head of Manchester United’s Academy Nicky Butt has lavished praise on Aliou Traore after the 17-year-old signed a professional contract with the Red Devils.

Traore, who has been compared to a young Paul Pogba, signed a professional deal with Man United having turned 17 on Monday.

The midfielder has been training with the 20-time English champions since last summer, but did not officially join the club as a youth player until the start of December.

The former Paris Saint-Germain youngster will represent Man United’s Under-18 team in the second half of this season with the view to progressing to the Under-23s.

Butt has branded Traore ‘a tremendously gifted young player’, with the club’s former midfielder tipping the Frenchman for a bright future in the game.

Butt told Man United’s official website:

“Aliou is a tremendously gifted young player and we are all delighted to see him sign his first professional contract at Manchester United.

“Aliou will naturally need time to adapt, but he has an exciting future ahead of him and we are all looking forward to seeing his performances for the Under-18s in the second half of this season.”

Another of the club’s outstanding youngsters – Angel Gomes – signed a professional contract with Man United in the latter stages of 2017.

First-team boss Jose Mourinho has introduced a number of youngsters to the fold during his time at Old Trafford.