Casemiro has praised Kobbie Mainoo (Image: Manchester United/YouTube)
Casemiro has seemingly disagreed with former Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim regarding Kobbie Mainoo, describing him as ‘one of the best’ in his role. The Brazilian’s remarks stood in stark contrast to Amorim, who seemed reluctant to play the midfielder.
Mainoo found himself relegated to the bench under the Portuguese boss and was unsure about his prospects at the club, even considering a loan or a permanent departure amid interest from Chelsea and Napoli. He has, nevertheless, been restored to the starting XI by interim boss Michael Carrick and has been thriving for the club once more.
The academy product has featured from the outset in every match under Carrick’s guidance, which secured him a recall to Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the current international break. Mainoo appeared in both friendlies against Uruguay and Japan and will be hoping to secure his spot for this year’s World Cup.
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During Amorim’s tenure, Mainoo didn’t start a Premier League fixture this season, with his sole appearance in the XI coming in the surprising Carabao Cup elimination against Grimsby Town. This prompted Mainoo to seek an exit from the club in the summer transfer window.
Yet the 20-year-old’s instant influence since returning to the team following Amorim’s departure has exposed the club’s previous manager. Numerous prominent pundits and club legends were perplexed by his absence from the side, and now Casemiro has delivered a further blow by backing him for future greatness.
Kobbie Mainoo has impressed for Man Utd under Michael Carrick. (Image: Getty)
« Kobbie is the present and the future, » the Brazilian said in a Q&A with United. « I think that he is one of the best No.8s and can be for that for the next 12 years.
« He is a player I really like. He always wants the ball. It is true that football can’t change your mentality, but Kobbie demonstrated that he hasn’t changed his focus once.
« He has to continue focusing like he is now and continue playing the important role he is now. But what a player he is, he is a great player.
« He has demonstrated this in the Euros final with England, he has demonstrated it in finals, he scored in the FA Cup [final vs Man City in 2024]. Kobbie is the present and the future. »
When pressed back in December over why Mainoo wasn’t featuring regularly, Amorim hit back. « You always ask me the same thing, » he said.
« I understand what you are saying. You love Kobbie. He starts for England, but that doesn’t mean I need to put Kobbie on when I feel I shouldn’t. »
Former Liverpool and England midfielder Steven Gerrard is among the pundits to have recently condemned Amorim’s handling of the youngster. « I felt really sorry for him in terms of the kid’s career under Amorim, » he told TNT Sport.
« I think it was out of order that he never got any opportunity, especially with Man United being so inconsistent.
« But not surprised that Michael Carrick [started to play him]. I think that was one of the straight wins if you walk into a job, if you like. Get Kobbie Mainoo back in, get him smiling, give him game time and minutes, and get him fit and up to the speed where we all know he can play. »
« He’s now at a level where he walks in the England squad, never mind Amorim not playing him. He walks into the England squad if he’s playing regularly for Man United. »
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