Five things you didn’t know about Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo

Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo has emerged into the first-team and impressed supporters in recent weeks, but there’s much to learn about the midfielder.

Mainoo, 18, has shown his talent on the pitch in recent weeks, particularly with his performances against Everton and Galatasaray.

Erik ten Hag has sung the praises of the youngster, who seems like he will be a regular in the first team at Old Trafford for a number of years.

What’s there to learn about Mainoo? He’s excellent on the ball and smart off it, but there’s more that you might not know about the 18-year-old.

Kobbie Mainoo’s Love Island Link

If I were to say Kobbie Mainoo and Love Island in the same sentence, then you’d understandably be rather confused. However, it was, in fact, the talented teenager’s brother who appeared on the UK’s hit reality TV show in 2019.

Jordan Mainoo-Hames, Kobbie’s older brother, was part of the cast on that season’s show, where the aim of the game is to find love whilst on the island of Mallorca in a stunning villa alongside fellow contestants.

Jordan, 28, has been a firm supporter of his younger brother and was particularly delighted when Kobbie made his debut for the under-18s side at just 15 years of age.

Jimmy Murphy Player of the Year winner

Kobbie Mainoo is one of the most talented academy talents on United’s books right now and he was deservedly the recipient of the Jimmy Murphy Player of the Year award for the 2022/23 campaign.

Mainoo had recently made his first-team debut and enjoyed a successful year with the academy. He said: “To stay around it and to keep on getting more games is the ultimate goal. I want to stay at this club; I’ve been here my whole life.”

Manchester United over City… again and again

Kobbie Mainoo joined the set-up at Manchester United at age nine, but by then he had already attracted the attention of many clubs, including United’s rivals Manchester City.

Ian Kelly, who was Mainoo’s coach at youth club Failsworth Dynamos, has revealed that Mainoo was training with City’s academy, as well as United’s, at age seven but decided to choose The Reds over The Citizens.

Since then, various reports have explained how the rival side have attempted to lure the midfielder away from Old Trafford on several occasions. They’ve been met with the same answer every time: No.

FA Youth Cup winner

Alejandro Garnacho was the star of the show during Manchester United’s FA Youth Cup victory in the 2021/22 campaign, but not many know the significance that Kobbie Mainoo played in the iconic cup victory.

Mainoo started every game in the FA Youth Cup that season and was only substituted once – during the 3-1 win over Reading in the fourth round.

More impressively, however, is that 50 per cent of Mainoo’s goal contributions during that season were in the competition as he bagged two goals and an assist in six games.

His first goal came against Reading in that third-round tie as he smartly finished at the keepers’ near post. He would then net in the following round against Everton with a towering header to put Travis Binnion’s side in front.

Mainoo’s assist came against Leicester City in the quarter-finals, as he set up top scorer Garnacho with a precise through ball. That’s something we could expect more of in the first team in the coming years.

Kobbie Mainoo: International decisions

Born in Stockport, Mainoo has gone through the ranks in the England set-up and now resides in the under-19s where he’s made six appearances.

However, the young starlet also has the option to represent Ghana, the country his parents are from, at international level.

Although, the Daily Mail have claimed that the Football Association are confident that Mainoo will choose to represent The Three Lions, with coaches impressed by the teenager’s professional attitude.