Kobbie Mainoo obtained the ball from Bruno Fernandes and set off halfway contained in the opposition half at Outdated Trafford.
We have been lower than two minutes into Manchester United’s win over Brentford on Monday night time, and Mainoo was about to give you one thing particular.
He shrugged off the problem of Mikkel Damsgaard and stored his steadiness because the Dane fell to the ground. Subsequent up was Nathan Collins, turned inside out with a bit of physique swerve within the penalty field. However better of all was the beautiful flick with the within of his proper heel that took the ball away from Yehor Yarmoliuk earlier than squaring it to Amad Diallo and nonetheless managing to remain upright as goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher lunged in.
Solely the faintest of touches by Sepp van den Berg in entrance of aim prevented Diallo’s shot from getting into and denied Mainoo one of many assists of the season.
The younger United star has been spectacular since coming in from the chilly beneath Michael Carrick, however this was a reminder of the magic in Mainoo’s toes; the sort we noticed when he scored these unforgettable objectives in opposition to Lyon, Wolves and Liverpool after breaking by at United.
It’s what makes him a shining jewel of United’s famed academy and probably one of many best English midfielders of his era. What on earth was Ruben Amorim pondering when he solid him out at United and pitched him in direct competitors with captain Fernandes for a spot in his staff?
Kobbie Mainoo has impressed since being introduced out from the chilly at Manchester United by Michael Carrick
He has the potential to turn out to be one of many best English midfielders of his era after signing a brand new deal on the membership
The information that Mainoo has lastly signed a brand new long-term contract at United shall be trigger for celebration and no little aid round Outdated Trafford, bringing to an in depth a two-year saga that would have ended so otherwise.
Now the 21-year-old will be the heartbeat of this United staff for years to return, simply as he at all times appeared destined to be.
However that got here beneath severe menace from Amorim as Mainoo misplaced his place and misplaced his means at United to such an extent that he twice requested to depart the membership on mortgage, and would have thought-about going for good if it got here to that.
He would have gladly joined his former United team-mates Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund at Napoli who have been ready for any signal of encouragement from United to make their transfer.
Letting Mainoo depart would have been an enormous own-goal by United. An act of unforgiveable negligence by a membership that had already proven the door to 2 extra of its academy stars in Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho after they fell out with Amorim.
And let’s not overlook Hojlund both. That photograph of him, Mainoo and Garnacho perched on the perimeter fence at Outdated Trafford, celebrating a aim in opposition to West Ham in February 2024, appeared to seize the way forward for United. So too did the photographs of the three of them dancing on the Wembley turf a number of months later, Mainoo in his beanie hat after scoring United’s second aim within the FA Cup ultimate over Manchester Metropolis.
What a felony waste it might have been to see all three younger gamers depart inside little greater than a yr.
Mainoo’s new contract implies that he, at the very least, shall be staying round for whereas but after agreeing a deal till 2031 value within the area of £150,000-a-week.
Former United supervisor Ruben Amorim made the weird determination to place him in competitors with Bruno Fernandes for a spot within the staff
With Casemiro saying farewell to United on the finish of the season, and Manuel Ugarte more likely to comply with, Mainoo shall be central to the midfield rebuild on the membership and that’s the way it needs to be.
He has been glorious beneath Carrick, taking part in 12 of the 13 video games because the new head coach was appointed. When Mainoo was absent by damage within the defeat to Leeds earlier this month, it was clear simply how a lot United missed him.
He returned within the win at Chelsea with considered one of his greatest performances in a purple shirt thus far, and was glorious once more in Monday’s victory over Brentford as United moved to the brink of Champions League qualification.
England will really feel the profit too with Thomas Tuchel capable of choose a participant who’s again in favour for his membership, recalling Mainoo simply in time for the World Cup. It could have been a disgrace if Amorim’s lack of judgement had value him that as properly.
A participant who grew to become an everyday within the England line-up at Euro 2024 is ready to have two main championships beneath his belt on the age of 21.
The perfect factor about Mainoo is that there’s a lot extra to return – and United can thank their fortunate stars it is going to be at Outdated Trafford.
