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Cole Palmer includes ex-Man Utd prodigy in dream five with Lionel Messi and Neymar

Originally posted on HITC | By Jonny Maze | Last updated Oct 3, 2025 5:08 PM ET

Cole Palmer has put together his dream five-a-side team, and while he has included a few of the game’s greats, there is one name that might catch fans off guard – a former Manchester United prospect who never quite made it at Old Trafford.

It has become pretty common for players to be asked about their ideal five-a-side line-up during media duties.

Each player tends to have their own approach. Some stick with those they know well from playing together, like Danny Welbeck did when he picked Paul Scholes.

Manchester United icons often find their way into these teams, but Palmer took a different route. His selection included one unexpected choice among some big-name stars.

Ravel Morrison makes the cut in Cole Palmer’s ideal five-a-side squad

Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images

Palmer, who has been open about his Man United roots, was asked by Chelsea’s TikTok page to name his top five-a-side team. It was not a surprise that there might be a bit of a United influence.

Wayne Rooney, Palmer’s idol growing up, seemed an obvious choice given how often he has spoken about what Rooney meant to him. However, he went in a different direction.

Instead of picking one of the more famous names from United’s past, Palmer went with Ravel Morrison, a player who made only three senior appearances for the club but was well-regarded within the academy system.

He started with Thibaut Courtois in goal, and then filled out the rest of his line-up with some big names.

“Then the four players I would have are Messi, Neymar, Ravel [Morrison], and me.”

Morrison never fulfilled that promise because of off-field problems that eventually derailed his career. Even so, those who saw him play at youth level still speak highly of his natural talent.

Morrison was once tipped as Man United’s next big thing

Morrison came up through United’s 2011 FA Youth Cup-winning side alongside Paul Pogba and was considered every bit as talented as the French midfielder.

Pogba once said that the British prospect was as skilful as Neymar. Even though their careers went in very different directions, it shows why Palmer put him in his five-a-side line-up.

Rooney was another admirer of Morrison and even tried to bring him to Plymouth Argyle in 2024.

Although there were a few moments where fans got glimpses of what he could do during brief spells at West Ham and Lazio, consistency always eluded him.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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