When he found out that Manchester United had sent scouts to watch him play a few weeks ago, the Sweden U21 international could hardly contain his amazement.
Hans Larsson, director of Mjallby AIF, claims that the Red Devils of Erik ten Hag are keeping an eye on 20-year-old Rosengren, one of Scandinavia’s most promising young midfielders.
“Manchester United wasn’t here, I didn’t know that. The stadium in Mjallby, Strandvallen, had never even crossed my mind. In a smile, Rosengren.
“When I read about it, I was astounded. I was a little surprised when they told me that United were looking at me.
Head coach Anders Torstensson described Rosengren as a “absolutely fantastic” talent, praising his “poise, physique, and confidence.” Rosengren can play in centre midfield or out wide on the left side.
The son of Mjallby legend Patrik Rosengren also concedes that it would be a “dream” to join a true European powerhouse like Man United, with his current employers unlikely to get in the way.
Otto Rosengren is en route to Manchester United, right?
Naturally, I want to. To play in a major league has been an ambition of mine since I was a young child, Rosengren tells Goteborgs Posten.
“I don’t think Mjallby will stop me if I want to (leave).
“Getting the attention of other clubs is just fun. There is nothing tangible; there is only intrigue. For me, it’s crucial to just concentrate on performing well. This is the reason (the scouts) come and look. Just keep moving forward in that direction.
Rosengren, if he were to follow in the footsteps of fellow Swedes Henrik Larssen, Victor Lindelof, Anthony Elanga, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Jesper Blomqvist, would do so under the tutelage of Erik ten Hag, a coach with a strong track record of producing young players with exciting potential and technical ability.
While this is going on, Rosengren takes pride in his football savvy both on and off the pitch.
“(My big strength is) my understanding of the game,” he continues. I’m also pretty good at reading games. When you are not the biggest player on the pitch, it is crucial. You have to be in front of everyone.
I’ve worked hard on it, and that’s how it’s been for me all these years.
“I like to have the ball a lot so that I can give the team opportunities. I have a lot of rapid thinking.