- Manchester United midfielder hailed Mainoo
- The pair have just seven games left together
- They have played in 63 games side-by-side
Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has given a glowing verdict of midfield partner Kobbie Mainoo, calling the Englishman the “present and the future.”
Casemiro spoke to the club’s media team about the young midfielder and tipped him to be a huge success:
“I think that he is one of the best No. 8s and can be for that for the next 12 years. He is a player I really like. He always wants the ball. It is true that football can’t change your mentality but Kobbie demonstrated that he hasn’t changed his focus once.”
Casemiro added:
“He has to continue focusing like he is now and continue playing the important role he is now. But what a player he is, he is a great player. He has demonstrated this, in the Euros final with England, he has demonstrated it in finals, he scored in the FA Cup [in the 2024 final win over Manchester City].”
The Brazilian concluded:
“Kobbie is the present and the future.”
The Englishman has enjoyed a recent resurgance under interim manager Michael Carrick, with Mainoo even being called up to the international squad, making his first start in a 1-0 loss to Japan since England’s 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland on 7 September 2024.
Mainoo Will Miss Casemiro
Over the past three seasons, Mainoo and Casemiro have been an electrifying presence when on the field together. They’ve appeared together in 47 games, 28 wins, seven draws, and 12 losses.
An average of 1.94 points per game when they step out on the pitch together. This makes it so damning on Ruben Amorim that he never seemed to start them together.
Across 63 games, the pair were on the pitch together just 13 times for a total of 318 minutes. The equivalent of three and a half games.
Since Carrick took charge, the two have featured in all 10 games together, starting alongside each other every time. In these ten fixtures, they have played a combined 836 minutes. 2.6 times the amount under Amorim.
Things deteriorated to such an extent under the Portuguese head coach that Mainoo requested to leave the club on loan. But the club stood firm and ensured he stayed put despite his struggles under Carrick’s predeccesor.
For United fans, that moment felt precarious. Amorim already faced scrutiny for his results and handling of the young Englishman; however, news of Mainoo seeking minutes elsewhere shifted opinion further against him.
Thankfully, for Mainoo, Amorim departed the club after a spat with technical director Jason Wilcox, after a particularly damning press conference after a 1-1 draw with Leeds United.
Mainoo is Man Utd’s Starboy
Whilst Mainoo has not shown the same heights he once did in every match under Carrick, game by game, a bit of the rust is shaken off, and we start to see the same player he once was again.
At just 19 years of age—he turns 20 six days after Manchester United’s match against Leeds on 13 April—Mainoo is still incredibly young and has his whole career ahead of him.
He could be an option for Thomas Tuchel’s England squad come summer, but for now, he has an incredibly important next seven games as he and United attempt to earn their place back in the UEFA Champions League.
