Kobbie Mainoo, 19, has enchanted the football crowd, everyone praises him

Takeover forward, and the ball on the outside of the right foot from the opponent’s lap. Determinedly into the penalty area, and a spiraling shot into the back corner.

Left-foot takeover in the penalty area, quick spin and right-footed curling shot into the back corner.

Kobbie Mainoo only turned 19 last week, but is one of the most talked about young Premier League players at the moment. One reason can be found on the field, but for the future even more important is the functionality of the eye for the game demonstrated off the field.

Mainoo, who thrives in the center of the midfield, has been – especially in Manchester – under the microscope for years, but the youngster broke into the general public’s consciousness on February 1 in Manchester United’s away match against Wolverhampton.

The home team leveled in the fifth minute of extra time, but then Mainoo emerged. A great individual performance in the seventh minute of extra time guaranteed ManU an important 4–3 victory.

The opening goal of a career is always one of the most memorable, but the second hit of the season was certainly not far behind. It was born against the blood enemy Liverpool in the first week of April.

A spin in the penalty area and a shot into the back corner immediately reminded many ManU fans of a hit from years ago.

Italian Federico Macheda scored an almost identical goal for ManU on his debut 15 years earlier. Macheda was only 17 years old and was promised a sparkling future.

However, the reality was a couple of notches rougher. Macheda redshirted in 2008 – 13 in a handful of games per season. The loan cycle took him to Italy, Germany and the lower league levels of England. Now the 32-year-old plays in the Turkish premier league for Ankaragücü.

Macheda had words of warning for Mainoo after the Liverpool match.

“After my goal I felt that I had succeeded (to the top). I didn’t know what was coming,” Macheda commented to the British newspaper The Sunille.

“Coming from my background, it was easy to grow too big for my own shoes. I was raised in a way that made it impossible to keep my feet on the ground. When you’re young, you don’t look at the big picture.”

Macheda admits he should have worked harder. Nor was he prepared for the consideration he received.

“The goal was on everyone’s lips, and you can’t prepare for such a life change.”

Although Mainoon’s and Macheda’s goals were almost identical, the risk of the same steps happening seems quite small.

Those familiar with the ad have described the young man walking with his feet firmly on the ground. The shots are not only mature on the field, but also off it. The ad has not made headlines in the British tabloids, and in addition to everyday coolness, he also showed disarming warmth in February.

One ManU fan wrote touchingly that he watched the Wolves match with his father, which Mainoo solved. The match was the last for the father who had cancer.

“You will never score a more important goal for our family. You are our family’s hero and my son’s favorite player,” the fan wrote.

Mainoo responded to the supporter with a video published on the messaging service X.

“Hey Daniel, this is Kobbie. I saw your post and your story really touched me. I am very sorry about your father’s death. I’m glad you were able to share that moment and I was able to be a small part of it,” said Mainoo.

“I would like to invite you and your son to our game soon. Strength to you, and see you soon!”

Mainoo doesn’t seem 19 years old. He performs with the confidence of an experienced player but at the same time with humility and the courage of youth. Or what else could you think of in terms of answers to fans’ questions?

Who is your gaming role model?

“I don’t have just one. I try to take different things from different players and combine them in my own game.”

What advice do you have for young players struggling with confidence?

“Play your own game regardless of the opponent. Don’t let failures affect you. Only worry about the things you can influence.”

Where does the calmness with the ball come from?

“I don’t know, but I’ve always felt the best with the ball. That’s when I feel in control. I’ve played a lot of futsal when I was younger, it’s definitely made it easier.”

Kobbie Boateng Mainoo was born on May 19, 2005 in Stockport, near Manchester. His parents are Ghanaian, and the family still goes to nurture their roots in Ghana. Mainoo has two older sisters Or and It means and big brother Jordan.

Kobbie’s first club was Cheadle & Gatley, but at the age of 9 Manchester United invited him.

“His strength from an early age was deception. I had to come up with rules to make his game harder. He was so superior”, who coached Mainoo as a junior Steve Ware comment Manchester Evening Newsille.

The fast and strong Mainoo made his way up ManU’s junior ladder one step at a time and reached the top in the 2021-2022 season, when the team celebrated winning the Junior English Cup. An academy student a year older played in the same team Alejandro Garnacho.

Garnacho has scored seven goals in the Premier League and one in the Champions League this season, and Mainoo captures the Academy’s representation even more.

I then took the next step in advertising to the representative team. For the first time, he ran onto the field in the Premier League on February 19, 2023, with number 73 on his back. Ten minutes of playing time came off in a 3–0 home win over Leicester.

We had to wait until November for the next minutes. Mainoo injured his ankle in a training match against Real Madrid in July, and the injury kept him sidelined for a long time.

However, after getting fit, Mainoo has conquered a place in ManU’s midfield, with number 37. In 18 matches, a total of 1,447 minutes have been accumulated, i.e. a good 80 per match. Of the matches, ManU has won seven, drawn five times and lost six times.

On March 23, Mainoo made his national team debut after coming on as a substitute in a 0–1 loss to Brazil. Three days later, Mainoo was in the opener when England drew 2-2 against Belgium. Mainoo was chosen as the best player in England.

What then what makes a teenage midfielder so good?

Soft touch on the ball, explosiveness, courage, exceptional composure. Ability to give up the ball at the right time, technical skills to perform various passes and passes.

Statistical service choose analyzed the young man’s statements at the end of February.

For example, in the match played against Luton on February 18, Mainoo passed the opponent by carrying as many as six times, which is the highest number since April 2022 and Paul Pogban performance against Norwich. The entire rest of ManU’s team missed by carrying only five times against Luton.

According to Opta, Mainoo has been most involved in attacks that have ended in a shot, when the statistics are measured per 90 minutes played.

Mainoo is hyped a lot, but according to Opta’s analysis, he had made the most successful passes under pressure per 90 minutes of the team’s players. He also doesn’t lose the ball often.

Statistics confirm what the eye sees. Mainoo is aggressive, skilled and reads the game well. So it’s no wonder that he has been praised by practically everyone whose opinion has been asked.

For example, ManU’s head coach Erik ten Hag praised Mainoo after the Belgium match.

“He played very well, but we are not surprised. We’ve seen what he’s capable of. He adapts very quickly to the new level, and everything looks very natural,” ten Hag comment.

Head coach of the national team Gareth Southgate made it even better.

“His qualities are there for everyone to see. The ability to receive the ball under pressure, handle the ball in tight spaces and challenge opponents.”

“He gives us a different option in midfield. We are really satisfied. He has adapted excellently. It’s hard to believe how old he is.”

With the shots we’ve seen, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Mainoo donned the national team’s uniform in the German European Championships in the summer as well. And would adapt again to a new level.