Gary Neville has shared what Manchester United insiders thought about Kobbie Mainoo heading into the new season.
The 18-year-old midfielder made his full Premier League debut this weekend in the Red Devils’ 3-0 win against Everton, with Mainoo winning major praise on the night for his performance at Goodison Park.
And according to Neville via The Gary Neville Podcast, United had plans this season to bring Mainoo into the first-team fold, with the youngster’s injury in the summer leading to the signing of Sofyan Amrabat.
Indeed, United have one of the best youth academies in English football, and after yesterday’s performance, it’s no wonder why insiders are excited about Mainoo’s potential.
Neville said: “I mentioned earlier in the commentary that I had heard earlier on in the season because like everybody I was asking ‘What’s going on, why aren’t they signing a player in midfield,’ and it was told to me if Mainoo stays fit then they won’t sign another midfield player.
“Mainoo then got injured and all of a sudden Amrabat came back onto the table but they were not going to sign another player, and I said ‘That’s a lot of faith to put in a young player,’ but I can see why in that 70 minutes that we watched him, I was disappointed when he went off!”
Kobbie Mainoo is Manchester United’s future and now their present
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Whilst Alejandro Garnacho has stolen all the headlines for scoring arguably the best overhead kick goal in Premier League history, Neville is right to shower Mainoo in praise for his display against Everton.
The teenager was brilliant on the day and showed exactly why United coaches and staff are so excited by Mainoo’s potential, with more first-team starts in the Premier League seemingly a certain.
With midfield as problematic an area as it has been for United in the past few years, having an 18-year-old from the academy step up and look the business is a dream situation for supporters.
And for Mainoo, he could now be viewed as the present for United’s midfield rather than the future, with Neville seemingly impressed with what he saw at Goodison Park yesterday.