Is academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo the midfielder Man United have been searching for?

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The holding midfield position has long been a discussion for debate at Manchester United. A position once paraded by the likes of Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick, it could be argued Old Trafford hasn’t seen a world class defensive midfielder for a very long time. Many felt Casemiro could change that when he signed for €70.65 million from Real Madrid in the summer of 2022, but injuries and suspensions have meant the 31-year-old has been difficult to rely on for manager Erik ten Hag, and with the Brazilian now in the twilight of his career, what’s the future at the heart of Man United’s midfield? 

Market Value

K. Mainoo Central Midfield

€35.00m

A whole host of midfielders have been linked with a move to Man United this season, including João Neves and Guido Rodríguez, but the club could have the exact profile they need right on their doorstep. Academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo put in a man of the match display in his first Premier League start in the Red Devils 3-0 win at Goodison Park this Sunday. Valued at just €800,000 ahead of December’s latest Premier League market value update, the 18-year-old possesses some enviable qualities, and could be on the rise. The 13-time Premier League winners Man United travel to Galatasaray this Wednesday, bottom of their Champions League group, and in desperate need of a result at the Turkish champions. 

Is Mainoo the man to replace Casemiro?

To have been included in the starting eleven against Everton despite not playing a minute of football for Man United this season due to an ankle injury, speaks volumes of ten Hag’s trust in Mainoo. And his faith was repaid. Mainoo won five duels, completed 34 of his 41 attempted passes, and made a goal saving clearance off the line. He also had fans purring, as he lofted a perfectly weighted ball over the top to his captain Bruno Fernandes. Whilst the teenager shone, experienced midfielders Sofyan Amrabat and Donny Van de Beek were named among the substitutes - that pair have a combined market value of €40m. 

After the victory against the Toffees, Man United skipper Fernandes was full of praise for the English youngster: “He’s the man of the match. For his age he has so many qualities, he sees things before others. He is comfortable with the ball and never makes a mistake. Kobbie put in a  great performance for sure.” Whilst ex-pros were also waxing lyrical about Mainoo, with Roy Keane saying “he already looked like a Manchester United player” and Gary Neville claiming “Mainoo has been Manchester United’s best player by a street.”

Casemiro has missed seven Premier League games through suspension since arriving at the beginning of last season, as well as missing five league games through injury this campaign. He’s only played 36 English top-flight games for the club, meaning the he has missed 25% of Man United’s league fixtures since arriving from Spain. Mainoo is still young and very raw, and ten Hag won’t want to put too much pressure on the teenagers shoulders, but gradually filtering in the youngster alongside the experienced five time Champions League winner Casemiro, as a long-term successor to the Brazilian, could be the perfect antidote to Ten Hag’s midfield issues. 

Player Comparison

Kobbie Mainoo

Casemiro

Manchester United

Manchester United

€35.00m

Market Value

€30.00m

19

Age

32

Central Midfield

Position

Defensive Midfield

Jun 30, 2027

Contract until

Jun 30, 2026

Full Player Comparison

Man United’s academy producing

Man United have the joint most academy graduates in their squad this season in the Premier League alongside rivals Liverpool. The Red Devils academy has long been the producer of mercurial talent. “Class of 92” members Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, and Phil and Gary Neville, made a staggering 1,792 league appearances for the club between them. Marcus Rashford, currently valued at €75m, was on the conveyor belt when he shot to prominence with a flurry of goals in his first dozen appearances in the 2015/16 season, and Mainoo might be the latest to make that transition. 

In their victory against Everton, ten Hag named four academy graduates in his starting eleven - Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho, Rashford and Scott McTominay. Add to this, another graduate in Hannibal coming on for Man United, and even Everton naming a United academy graduate in their starting line-up in James Garner, you can see the power of the youth set up at the club. This season, the eight academy players in the Man United squad equate a combined market value of €144.3m, including Mainoo (MV: €800,000) Garnacho (MV: €25m) Rashford (MV: €75m) and McTominay (MV: €25m). 

Man United recent struggles away in Europe

As aforementioned, Ten Hag’s team have a mountain to climb in order to qualify from their admittedly tough Champions League group this season. Three defeats in the first four games have left Man United on the brink of elimination, ahead of their trip to Galatasaray this Wednesday. They were beaten 3-2 by the Turkish side at Old Trafford. When you take into consideration that Man United have never won a game at the home of the Turkish champions, and dig deeper into the Red Devils’ away record in Europe in recent years, it makes for some bleak reading for supporters of the club. 

They haven’t made it past the quarter-finals of the Champions league since Sir Alex Ferguson’s team were beaten in the final by Barcelona in 2011, and that may be due to their concerning record on the road. They have won just one of their last eight away games in the Champions League. In that run they have suffered defeats to Copenhagen, Young Boys and Istanbul Basaksehir. They will need a big performance in Istanbul this week.