Manchester United knew they had "something special" on their hands from the moment Marcus Rashford trained with the first team.
That's according to Juan Mata, who has tipped the young England striker to improve significantly over the next few years.
Rashford has started the new Premier League season well, scoring once and bagging as many in the club's first three games this season.
He's also been on target for the national team in their World Cup qualifying clash with Slovakia, showing no sign of fear fighting Romelu Lukaku and Harry Kane for a place in both teams respectively.
Speaking about the teenager's impressive run of form, Mata told the Manchester Evening News: "I'm not surprised.
"Since the first moment we saw him in training, we thought he was something special.
"And he's making it real. He's scoring for England, for us [Manchester United] and he has been a really good player and a real threat for opposition defenders.
"I think he can be even bigger. He has a great mentality and great qualities to become a big, big player."
Mata wasn't the only one at the Soccerex Global Convention in Manchester to heap praise on the young Man United forward.
Former Red Devils shot-stopper Edwin Van Der Sar also spoke highly of Rashford, stating that he is the perfect example of why clubs should look at their academy players.
"Marcus is a great example, you look at his pace, he's technically good, he scores goals, and that's what you need and want as a club.
"That's the same as the development we have at Ajax.
"We might not be able to buy those big name players but we put the emphasis on our academy, making sure the players can develop and get the chances at 18, 19 years old and at England 21, 22, 23, when you're still counted as a talent."
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