Manchester United always stood for greatness, power and dominance. From the birth of the Premier League in 1992 until 2005 (the year of our protagonist’s birth), the ‘Red Devils’ imposed their iron fist, winning the title in eight of the 13 seasons played.
Since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, eight different coaches have passed through the Old Trafford dugouts, from the likes of Louis Van Gaal and José Mourinho to club legends such as Giggs, Solskjaer and Carrick, but although there were periods when the fans were excited about the club’s possible awakening, it all ended up being a terrible illusion in the theatre of dreams.
Carrington, its youth academy, has always been an identity of the club (remember the so-called “Class of 92” with Beckham, Scholes, Giggs and the Neville brothers) and, although it hasn’t stopped producing players, perhaps the latest big bets have disappointed in terms of their expectations.
Rashford, who was expected to be the chosen one, has remained a good player, while with Greenwood, the sporting aspect was the least important. Kobbie Mainoo is the new gem of the youth academy and Ten Hag seems to be aware of that.
Kobbie Mainoo is a 2005 midfielder born in Stockport, like Phil Foden. He has been with Manchester United since the age of six and was one of the key players, along with Garnacho, in the Mancunian side’s first ever FA Cup Youth (under-18s) win.
The number 37 is a fan favourite and, after making his debut for the first team in January 2023, it has been this season that he has broken all the moulds and established himself as one of the key players in Ten Hag’s squad.
With Mainoo, we are talking about a total midfielder. In the youth teams, he played in all positions in midfield (pivot, inside centre and playmaker) and, currently, he is shining in the double pivot, accompanying Casemiro.
He is a player capable of overcoming lines of pressure thanks to a very fine dribbling and a great overflow in interior spaces, something that is even better than doing it on the wing like most wingers.
Club legends are already comparing him to legends of world football: Ferdinand says he reminds him of Clarence Seedorf and Rooney says he is similar to Schweinsteiger.
Currently, he has Casemiro alongside him to help him with his defensive duties and Bruno Fernandes who is the offensive generator, so at times, he looks like a carrier, but it suits him well, because it allows him to see the football in front of him.
This season he has scored two goals, one of them to win the game against Wolves in stoppage time, but in the same stadium, he had scored the decisive penalty in a shoot-out with the Manchester United youth team. We are talking about a player who will dominate European football like other talents such as Zaïre-Emery, Lamine Yamal or Pau Cubarsí.
Kobbie Mainoo shatters the stereotypes of the casual onlooker about the black midfielder, and isn’t only a duel winner or a physical powerhouse with route running, but a technically gifted fantasist.
At 18, he has obvious room for improvement. He isn’t yet an elite player in terms of passing, but he does seem to have the passing sensibility to be a good inside player with a good dribble and change of direction.
Southgate has been forced to call him up because of his high level and, although the logical thing for the national team is that Henderson will be Rice and Bellingham‘s partner at the European Championship, the current Ajax player shouldn’t be overconfident, because Kobbie Mainoo has shown that he is ready for the top level.
This season has been the birth of an epoch-making player for Manchester United: the ‘Red Devils’ already have their future angel.
Translated by Marcos Rodríguez.
Main image: @ManUtd.
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