Man United youngster Kobbie Mainoo has featured in both pre-season games and a decision on his future has been made.
Manchester United youngster Kobbie Mainoo has been informed he will be a part of Erik ten Hag’s first-team squad next season.
Mainoo, 18, has long been considered the shining light of his age group in the academy and theManchester Evening Newsunderstands the midfielder will be kept around the first-team this season instead of being sent on loan.
It’s understood a loan was possible for Mainoo, but the decision has been made to keep him around the squad. Alejandro Garnacho took that route to the first-team last term and he’s now an established player at senior level.
There was loan interest in Mainoo from top-єɴԀ League One sides in the January transfer window but United turned it down.
The youngster was handed his first-team debut against Charlton in the Carabao Cup on January 10 and he made his Premier League debut just a few weeks later when making an appearance from the bench against Leicester.
Ten Hag startedMainooin the opening pre-season games against Leeds in Oslo and against Lyon in Edinburgh. The Stockport-born lad has now travelled to the USA where United will play a series of friєɴԀlies across the States.
Mainoo can be used anywhere in a midfield three, but it’s thought he will be best equipped to play in the No.8 role long-term. The club’s staff have challenged him in different roles in Under-21 games with a view to accelerating his development.
It’s understood Mainoo, who only just celebrated his 18th birthday in April, has impressed his senior teammates and sources have described him as ‘a real natural talent with high technical ability’.
Mainoo recently signed a new long-term contract until the summer of 2027.
