He is going places if He continues with this great form,His composure on the still amazes me’: Casemiro reveals that one Man United player that will be world-class player soon
He is going places if He continues with this great form,His composure on the still amazes me’: Casemiro reveals that one Man United player that will be world-class player soon
Casemiro is convinced that Manchester United team-mate Kobbie Mainoo is destined to become ‘one of the best midfielders in the Premier League’ on the back of his superb breakthrough campaign at Old Trafford.
On an afternoon in which most of the Manchester United squad seemed to receive the ball as if they were playing a game of hot potato – Casemiro one of the worst culprits as he coughed up possession again and again – the composure of Kobbie Mainoo was in stark contrast to his far more experienced club mates.
The 18-year-old, as he has been throughout his first few months in the Red Devils first-team, was the most composed player on the Kenilworth Road pitch. He completed 87 per cent of his passes, compared to Casemiro’s 81 and Bruno Fernandes’ 78 (WhoScored).
It was yet another midfield masterclass from the teenager. Another supremely cultured performance which goes some way to justifying Casemiro’s confidence, the veteran Brazilian insisting that his young protege is only just getting started.
Kobbie Mainoo has a huge Manchester United future
“First off, I’d like to congratulate Kobbie. He’s only 18 and he’s already a starter at a club like Manchester United,” Casemiro tells TeamViewer Diaries on the Man United website.
“It’s not easy. There is a lot of pressure. But I think United will have a top player for the next years, easily. He is a top player. He’s exceptional. He’s a humble, hard-working player. He knows how to listen. He’s a great player.
“Since I play alongside him, I know Manchester United will have one of the best midfielders in the Premier League for the next years, easily.”
The future certainly looks bright at Old Trafford. Alongside Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund, Mainoo is rapidly shaping up to become the spine of a new-look Red Devils side under Ineos ownership.
“I think we have to recognise his value,” Casemiro adds. “He’s a great kid. I’m very happy that he’s on our side. As long as he keeps his head on straight, just as he’s doing now, I think we’ll have a great player for many, many years here at United.”
Whether the former Real Madrid enforcer is sticking around to watch Mainoo develop, however, remains to be seen. United are reportedly open to offers for a 32-year-old who’s decline has been stark in recent months, Casemiro increasingly resembling a battered old Mustang leaking oil and struggling to keep pace with a flurry of shiny new sports cars.
Casemiro’s decline could hand Mainoo a bigger role
“Obviously, it’s a long and tough journey,” adds Casemiro, who’s potential departure could open up a bigger and more senior role for Mainoo in the Man United engine room. “I always try to tell him this: that things aren’t easy, that you always have to work hard.
“You always need to want more and more. That’s what football is. But you can tell he has his head on straight. He’s a great player. Without a doubt, we’ll have a great player on our side for a long time.
“Obviously, you always try to give tips, and talk about your experience, but I always say that actions offer the best experience.
“The examples you set and your actions, on and off the pitch, are the most important things. That’s what I always try to tell them.
“I try to be a role model for them – on and off the pitch.”
