Ravel Morrison has been named as a surprise inclusion in the list of free agents that will attend week six of the PFA’s pre-season training as he eyes a return to English football.
The United academy product – who played alongside the like of Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard – was tipped to be a future first-team star but struggled to live up to expectations.
He ultimately left the club in 2012, after concerns over off the field problems and number of injures, before he eventually joined West Ham.
Back in September, Morrison signed for the 14th club of his rollercoaster career – Precision FC in Dubai – but is now unattached again and eyeing a return to English football.
This summer, the PFA – the Professional Footballers’ Association – have been putting on training camps for free agents looking to stay fit and play games while they don’t have a club to do that with.
And Morrison has been included on the Association’s list for the sixth week of the camp, joining 21 other players including a fellow ex-Manchester United star and a former Chelsea man.
Ravel Morrison has been named as a surprise inclusion in the PFA’s latest training group
He is looking for a return to an English club, having not played for one since the 2021-22 season
Morrison (second left, bottom row) will be joined by former Manchester United team-mate Ryan Tunniliffe (first left, bottom row)
Alongside Morrison is former United academy player Ryan Tunnicliffe, who played with Morrison in United’s FA Youth Cup-winning team of 2011. He has since featured for the likes of Fulham and Portsmouth.
As is Jamal Blackman, formerly of Chelsea, while the likes of Jake Cain were formerly on Liverpool’s books.
Morrison hasn’t played in England since the 2021-22 season, when he was on Derby County’s books.
He is now 32, but went to the United States to play for DC United, while he has also turned out for the likes of Lazio, QPR and West Ham in his career. He also played in the Baller League.
An England youth international up to Under-21 level, meanwhile, Morrison has also been playing for Jamaica, who are managed by former Three Lions boss Steve McClaren.
Earlier this year, he pleaded with English clubs to take a chance on him despite his reputation. He told The Athletic: ‘I do believe I can play in the Championship, easy. The frustrating thing is I’m not getting the opportunity.
‘My agent has spoken to a lot of sporting directors, chief scouts and heads of recruitment, and we’ve got really close to an agreement.
‘Then they get the manager’s opinion and it becomes, “Ah, but he’s done this, he’s done that”, and they are speaking about things that happened when I was a kid.
The PFA have named a 22-man squad for the training camp on week six of their summer camp
Morrison last played for Precision FC in Dubai but could soon return to English shores
Former Chelsea stopper Jamal Blackman is also named due to him remaining a free agent
‘Time has moved on, it’s over a decade ago. But it’s crazy sometimes how people don’t move on.
‘So many people have formed an opinion about me, but those opinions are based on things that happened 10 to 15 years ago.
‘I’m 32 now. I’ve played football around the world and had a good career. I’m not a kid of 16 or 17 anymore.
‘But then again, I have to look at myself because it all stems from my own mistakes. I did some things that were wrong and I can’t blame anyone but myself.’