The midfielder made his United debut at the age of 17 and will be one of the players to watch in the Reds’ pre-season campaign.
The Garnacho FA Youth Cup successorhas been the launch pad for many successful Manchester United careers, and everyone who follows the team’s 2022 trophy-winning journey has special mention of the two players.
It’s hard to ignore Alejandro Garnacho, United’s top scorer, taking the Under-18s to glory with two goals in the final against Nottingham Forest.
But behind him was the more humble but equally influential Kobbie Mainoo, who orchestrated United’s play from the depths and organized everything together.
Garnacho drew large crowds at Old Trafford with his displays of talent in the Youth Cup and catapulted him to greater recognition with a fantastic breakout season in 2022-23. The Argentinian is a rising star and loves the limelight.Mainoo is a very different character, but despite his more steady pace, he is following in Garnacho’s footsteps to Erik ten Hag’s side. After making his first first team cap last season with a meager number of appearances, the 18-year-old will be one of the players to watch in Man United’s pre-season campaign, which begins on Monday. Tu meets Leeds in Norway and will play a friendly in the US.
A spoilerMentioning Mainoo’s nаme to anyone around Man United usually triggers a grin. There is clear excitement about the 18-year-old’s progress and what he can achieve with the club.
“He really is a spoiler,” a club source told GOAL. “Balance, move, don’t pаnic under pressure. Of those who have won the Youth Cup, he and Alejandro have always stood out.”
“He will definitely be in the first team next season or he will play in the first team somewhere on loan. And he will beаt every opponent. He is a big guy. . He has the ability to balance, move, he doesn’t pаnic under pressure. He’s amazing.”
It sounds strange that Mainoo is described as large. He is only 5’9 (175 cm) tall, making him the same height as Lisandro Martinez. But he made up for it with his respectable physical strength honed in the gym after being encouraged by his trainers to work out.
Prefers to play against older opponentsMainoo was born in Stockport to Ghanaian parents. He often returns to Ghana to visit family, but he is an England Under-19 international and wants to represent the Three Lions at a higher level.
He was discovered by Man United while playing for Cheadle and Gatley Junior Club, and became part of the club’s academy at the age of 9, although he continued to represent his local club until the age of nine. when 12 years old.
Man United encourages their young players to resume normal football activities as they wish to promote a healthy childhood. The club believes that United can be a great addition to a player’s childhood, but should not define it.
Mainoo is encouraged to train with the older age groups to test himself and gain more experience, and he is one of the youngest players on the Youth Cup team, starting the campaign at the age of 16. He still started all six cup games and was one of U18s coach Travis Binnion’s most important players.
A versatileMainoo midfielder who played as a No. 6 under Binnion, but last season for the Under-21s he was tasked with playing as No. 8 and No. 10. He even played on the wing. The idea was to give him as much experience and confidence in different roles, as that would make him more equipped to come on off the bench for Ten Hag’s team.
“His talent is so high that they’ll push him around, try him in different positions, put him on the wing to give him a technical challenge,” a source said. other club news explained.
“In the first team, central midfield is such a competitive position, if you often come on from the bench maybe you have to take the wing for 10 minutes, so if he’s used to doing it in U21 will be easier.”
“He will define himself as number 6 but he may eventually become number 8 or number 10. What his best position is is still not fully determined, but if you ask him, he will sаy number 6 or number 8”.
