Mainoo's confidence and form in the win over Everton in round 13 of the Premier League was like the perfect introduction to Mainoo, who also played for Man Utd's youth team this season.
Mainoo (red shirt) dribbles the ball during Man Utd's 3-0 win over Everton in the 13th round of the Premier League on November 26, at Goodison Park. Photo: PA
After his first start in the Premier League on November 26, Mainoo received a lot of praise. Former player Gary Neville said that the 18-year-old midfielder is the type of player that Pep Guardiola, one of the best coaches in football history, wants. Even Roy Keane, the former captain of Man Utd, who is famous for being tough with young players, had to praise him.
"It was unbelievable," Keane told Sky Sports on November 26. "He was always in control of the ball and making decisions about when to play long and when to play short. He was also good without the ball. It was an all-round performance."
Mainoo joined Man Utd at the age of nine, after getting acquainted with football at grassroots club Cheadle & Gatley. He then rose through the ranks to become one of the "Red Devils" most promising talents. In the summer of 2022, while playing for the Man Utd U21 team, Mainoo began to attract attention. BBC commentator Jonny Crowther said that the 18-year-old star was on a different level compared to the rest of the players.
Mainoo also impressed during the 2022-23 EFL Trophy with Man Utd U21s, a tournament for lower-league clubs and youth teams of big clubs. One fan then wrote on social network X: "I could watch Mainoo's moves all day. Invest in him now."
Another fan advised coach Erik Ten Hag to promote Mainoo to the first team. This person believes that all Mainoo needs is to improve his fitness and that Ten Hag should forget about Frenkie De Jong, a long-term target but failed to sign.
Mainoo (second from right) won the 2021-2022 FA Youth Cup with the Man Utd youth team. Photo: Man Utd
The excitement surrounding Mainoo caught the attention of Ten Hag, who had scouted many young players during his time as Ajax manager. He gave the teenage midfielder his first senior appearance in January 2023, in a League Cup win over Charlton Athletic. Mainoo then came on as a substitute in an FA Cup win over Reading and a Premier League win over Leicester City.
Ten Hag insists Mainoo is not being called up to the first team to fill the squad. He wants to give opportunities to young players and discover more stars for the first team. "The young players are here to perform and contribute to the success of the team," Ten Hag added.
During the 2023-2024 pre-season, Mainoo suffered an ankle injury. However, this incident could not stop him from continuing to improve. After playing one game for the youth team this season, Mainoo was added to the first team. And in his first Premier League start, the 18-year-old star shone as Man Utd won 3-0 right at Goodison Park against Everton.
According to the Sun , with Casemiro likely to leave Man Utd next summer and the pursuit of De Jong failing, Mainoo is a suitable option to complete the midfield. Many people think that Mainoo is an upgrade on Paul Pogba, the 2018 World Cup winner with France but has always played erratically at Man Utd.
Thanh Quy (according to Sun, Sky Sports )
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