Gabriel Obertan was once supposed to help replace Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United. Now, he’s scoring solo stunners in the USL League One playoffs.
Obertan signed with the Charlotte Independence last year, joining after a long career in Europe that included a high-profile stint at Old Trafford.
Manchester United purchased Obertan in 2009 from Bordeaux. With Ronaldo having been sold to Real Madrid, the Frenchman was expected to help pick up the goalscoring slack. It didn’t quite work out.
Obertan scored just once in 28 appearance for United before joining Newcastle in 2011. He would go on to spend five seasons with the Magpies before stops in Russia, Bulgaria, England and Turkey.
The Frenchman has had a mixed spell with the Independence, but he came through with a big goal in Saturday’s quarterfinal against the South Georgia Tormenta.
The 33-year-old took possession in his own half and sailed the length of the field before slamming home a shot from a tight angle. The goal opened the scoring but Tormenta would come back to win the match 2-1 and end Charlotte’s season.
“Goals always help players of course, and when they are forwards in particular. There is a goal in Gabby, there is no question of that.”
That was what Sir Alex Ferguson said shortly after Obertan joined Manchester United. Clearly, it still applies.
Watch Obertan score for Charlotte
GABRIEL. OBERTAN. STOP THAT. 🤩
The veteran Frenchman opens the scoring for the @Independence just minutes into the match!#TRMvCLT // #USLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/H2RqcVjvql
— USL League One (@USLLeagueOne) October 22, 2022
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