Rajib Ray, 16-year-old and living in a slum of Kolkata’s red light area has been chosen to train with Premier League club Manchester United.
The teenager plays barefoot on the back streets of Kolkata was spotted by the scouts of United at a tournament for India’s best youngsters.
Rajib’s life changed two years ago when his mum sent him to the local Rahul Vidya Niketan school for the children of sex workers.
Also selected to make the trip to Manchester – which will include a tour of Old Trafford – is Rajib’s friend Arko Dey. His mum ekes a living selling potato and flour snacks from a street stall in Kolkata.
Rajib is among 11 selected from India to train at Old Trafford for 15 days with United’s coaches. Most of the boys are from affluent families except Rajib, who lives in a single room with his mother in the Sonagachi suburb – home to 12,000 sex workers.
