Robbie Savage has warned his son Charlie that making the grade at Manchester United will be made much harder due to his dad’s media persona.
Charlie Savage this week signed his first professional contract at United, following in the footsteps of his father who was part of the famous Class of ’92.
Having failed to make a first team appearance at Old Trafford, Robbie moved to Crewe before eventually forging a successful Premier League career, most notably at Leicester City.
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A midfielder like his father, Charlie has already earned Welsh honours at youth level, drawing comparisons with his famous father.
However, in an open letter published in the Daily Mirror, Savage urged his son to follow his own path and not allow himself to be overshadowed by his achievements.
“Yes, the journey will be paved with difficult obstacles for you as my son, and it could just be because I’ve been in the media spotlight for so long,” he wrote.
“As much as I (and so many other achieving individuals, men and women) are trying to remove these, by doing things like creating the Savage Foundation, I know the reality is that it will probably not change in my lifetime.
“However, try and face the difficulties head on, challenge those who are not fair and always be fair and truthful in what you do.”
Often cast as the role of the pantomime villain on the pitch, Robbie Savage has gone on to forge a successful career off it.
As an outspoken pundit he has continued to rile football fans up and down the country, while an appearance on Strictly Come Dancing brought him to the attention of a wider audience.
And he revealed that much of his self-confidence came from a letter his dad wrote to him when he made the move from Wrexham to Manchester as a teenager.
“Never stop believing in yourself,” his father wrote. “We know you are the best so believe in yourself.
“There is a great deal of difference between self-confidence and being a big head. Fortunately being a big head has never been a problem with you, so be confident.”
