Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo is the latest sensation in English football and former England international Glenn Hoddle believes he will make it to the Euros at the expense of two established internationals.
Mainoo, 18, made his debut for Manchester United this season when Casemiro suffered an injury. The youngster has since been a key part of the club’s setup, even keeping Casemiro on the bench.
The Brazilian, whose time at the club looks to be over, has endorsed the Ghanain-British midfield sensation of being the future of Manchester United.
“For those of us who work with him, it’s been no surprise to see him scoring and playing really well in games,” said the Brazilian to Manchester United’s media. “I think we have a complete player in Kobbie – aggressive, looks after the ball, a player who wants the ball.”
“I would say that if Kobbie continues the way he’s going with this mentality, continues training hard and doing things right, Manchester United have a great player for the next 15 years.”
This is a glowing recommendation for the talented young midfielder from a football veteran who has won five UEFA Champions League titles.
Former Premier League midfielder Hoddle shares these sentiments, although he expressed them differently.
Hoddle was analysing West Ham United’s Kalvin Phillips and James Ward-Prowse when he noted that Mainoo brings more to the England squad than they both do at the moment.
“It’s not just at the weekend [referring to Phillips’ gaffe over the weekend in the league], there’s a few things that have happened. He gave a goal away [on his debut] here a few weeks back,” Hoddle said on TNT Sports in regards to Phillips’ form.”
“So he’s on a downer, but you need support. There’s no doubt he’s a good footballer, he really is. When you’re out for that length of time at the top level, you’re not going to switch it on like a light. It’s going to need a little bit more time.”
“Ward-Prowse has been an excellent player, a fantastic player and those two players, it looks like they’re gonna miss out. Perhaps, it’s Mainoo that might actually go instead of Ward-Prowse to the Euros.”
Meanwhile, Jamie Carragher, another former England international who spent all his time at Liverpool when he played in the Premier League, named Mainoo as his dream signing for the Reds.
“I think I’d probably take the young kid Mainoo,” he told The Overlap Fan Debate. “His age, number one, I think he looks like a superstar, and he could go on to be a real superstar.”
“I’m trying to think who else in the United team is better playing in their position. Maybe [Marcus] Rashford because Liverpool in the summer, obviously under a new manager, but would that be a position you look at? Wide left because I think [Luis] Diaz is good, [but] I don’t think he’s great. So that could be a position.”
“But I think with Mainoo in central midfield. Yeah, I would go with him just for the age factor.”
