Who’s that boy pulling the string in Manchester United’s midfield at Old Trafford? It’s English-born Ghanaian starlet Kobbie Mainoo! The 17-year-old reached a big milestone in his young football career when manager Erik Ten Hag picked him in the starting eleven for the Red Devils’ Carabao Cup tie with Charlton Athletic on Tuesday night. And the youngster delivered.
Mainoo’s dream is to make it big at Old Trafford and to star there for many years and not settle with just his debut – no matter how sweet it was. And he did deserve his chance, according to Ten Hag.”It was a big game for United and Mainoo, a great opportunity. He did well at the winter camp in Spain. He also did very well against Everton in a friendly, so he deserved to play. So I am happy to give him the opportunity, but it is about what is deserved.”Mainoo was part of United’s FA Youth Cup-winning squad last season, along with Alejandro Garnacho. The lad was born in Stockport, just ten kilometres away from Manchester. He has represented England at the Under-17 and Under-18 levels, although he is still eligible for the Black Stars. He’s been a part of the United youth academy since the age of nine and signed his first professional contract with the club in May 2022.Playing in front of the packed Old Trafford can make a young player nervous, but Mainoo looked relaxed and comfortable – like a seasoned veteran. Passing the ball around, closing down the opponents, tackling, he’s done everything he was tasked with. He got a warm round of applause as he made his way to the bench as his teammates saw the game against Charlton out and booked the place in the last four.
Needless to say, Kobbie was beaming with joy after the match. He told United’s club television station that the selection came as a shock to him – even though it didn’t seem that way looking at his performance.”It’s an unbelievable feeling, I’ve been at this club all my life, and it’s all been building to tonight. To have my family here watching me, surrounding me, it’s just amazing. When I found out I was starting, I was a bit shocked – but I thought, ‘gotta do my job’. Of course, there were a few butterflies, but more just exciting. I played at Old Trafford in the FA Youth Cup, which was an amazing feeling. To have that again is brilliant.”And it must have been surreal for him to be replaced by Brazilian ace Casemiro after an hour of play.”To be able to follow him closely and watch him in training and stuff, it’s an honour. For him to come on for me tonight is crazy! My goal is to stay around the first team and keep getting more games. I want to stay at this club. That’s the ultimate goal.”