Man United starlet Kobbie Mainoo signs new long-term deal at the club
Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo puts pen to paper on new four-year deal at Old Trafford as he continues to impress Erik ten Hag after emerging from the club’s academy
- Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo has signed a new long-term contract
- The 17-year-old made his full debut in Carabao Cup win against Charlton
- Its understood Mainoo has signed a four-year deal with an extra year’s option
Manchester United teenager Kobbie Mainoo has signed a new long-term contract at Old Trafford.
The 17-year-old midfielder, one of eight United academy prospects to appear for the first team this season, made his full debut in last month’s Carabao Cup win against Charlton.
Sportsmail understands Mainoo has signed a four-year contract with the option to extend it by a further year.
United said: ‘Mainoo has played twice for Erik ten Hag’s senior side in 2022-23. He has been named in Erik ten Hag’s matchday squad for six Premier League games too.’ United added: ‘Mainoo will be looking to hone his talents behind the scenes and maintain his development at the club in the coming months and years.’
Stockport starlet Mainoo, is fast emerging as a player Ten Hag can also rely on.
Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo has signed a new four-year contract at the club
Mainoo poses with United’s head of academy Nick Cox (left) and manager Erik ten Hag (right)
Handed his first team debut against Charlton Athletic in the Carabao Cup quarter final win last month, many staff thought the 17-year-old was ‘unlucky’ not to have been given his bow before then. He played just over an hour before being replaced by Casemiro, the serial winner he admits to studying closely.
A key part of the team that won the FA Youth Cup against Nottingham Forest last season, Mainoo has continued on an upward trajectory.
As well as impressing Ten Hag in training, he was recognised as man of the match in a behind closed doors friendly with Everton during the World Cup and scored against Cadiz during United’s warm weather training camp in December.
After making his debut in the Carabao Cup, Ten Hag said the teenager had impressed in United’s winter training camp during the World Cup break, which led to him being given the opportunity.
‘The most important thing is to win this game and get into the next round,’ Ten Hag told MUTV.
Mainoo (centre) was handed his senior Manchester United debut against Charlton last month
‘We want to get into the semi-finals, so it’s a big game.
‘For him (Mainoo) it’s a great opportunity, he did very well during the winter camp in Spain. He also did very well against Everton in a friendly.
‘He deserved to play, so I’m happy to give him the opportunity – it’s about deserving it.’
Strong, quick, and without fear, Mainoo originally played for Cheadle and Gatley juniors before being picked up by United at the age of nine. He has drawn comparisons to another former United academy graduate, Paul Pogba, but recognises he still has plenty of room to grow both physically and in ability.
Indeed, for all the praise he is receiving, one of Mainoo’s greatest assets, staff say, is his willingness to listen.
Defender Harry Maguire notably took time to ease the youngster’s nerves ahead of his January debut and Mainoo gave credit to his established teammates afterwards, saying: ‘I’ve been in training with the lads quite a few times. They all made me feel welcome and all gave me words of advice and encouragement. So I felt at home.
Ten Hag is a big fan of Mainoo and the club have now handed him a long-term deal
The 17-year-old was handed the start after impressing Ten Hag during training over the winter
‘To be able to follow Casemiro closely and watch him in training is an honour and for him to come on for me is crazy.
‘I looked at the teamsheet and I was starting. I was a bit shocked but I had to do my job. Yeah, there were some butterflies, but it was more exciting.’
Several of Europe’s elite teams had been monitoring Mainoo’s progress following some of his performances in the UEFA Youth League, mindful that his pathway could become complicated as United try again for big names such as West Ham’s Declan Rice this summer, but the homegrown teenager’s allegiance to United has never come into question.
‘To stay around the first team and to keep on getting more games is the ultimate goal,’ he said. ‘I want to stay at this club, I’ve been here my whole life.’
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