Outgoing Manchester United star Casemiro has described Kobbie Mainoo as the ‘present and future’ of the club on the back of his new deal.
Under former manager Ruben Amorim, it looked as though Mainoo would be on his way out for the club as he struggled for game time after being put in direct competition with club captain Bruno Fernandes.
But he has found his groove again under Michael Carrick, and penned a new deal with a 650 per cent pay rise, running until 2031. The 21-year-old is proving to be, once again, vital to United.
Casemiro was appearing on the Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube Channel when he spoke of his colleague. He said: ‘Kobbie is an unbelievable player. But he needs to train, train, train. He needs fear – I play, I don’t play. I need to push the training, push the training. Because this guy is the present and the future of the club.
‘He’s an unbelievable player, he’s an unbelievable player. He’s a No 8, he’s not No 5. In Europe he’s No 6. He’s unbelievable. He loves the ball, he likes the ball, he needs the ball. He never loses the ball. He’s strong, he has quality. But he needs to push every game, every time.’
‘He needs consistency. But for me, he’s the present and the future of the club. This guy is an unbelievable player.’
Casemiro (left) has described Kobbie Mainoo (right) as the ‘present and the future’ of Manchester United
The midfielder is leaving the Red Devils at the end of the season but has high hopes of Mainoo
Casemiro will depart United this summer after four years at the club, meaning he will not play a part under any new manager United look to appoint.
Carrick was appointed to replace Amorim until the end of the season, and has guided the Red Devils to Champions League qualification amid a major upturn in form.
He is in the running for the permanent role, but it is understood that there are a number of other options being considered.
‘It’s a big problem,’ Casemiro said. ‘Because he deserves to stay. He deserves to stay.
‘The team plays very good. He will win any games. The team improves day by day. Game by game the team improves. So for me it’s a big problem because in my opinion he deserved this opportunity. So, especially for me, because he played in the midfield, he talked with me as a midfielder to a midfielder, it’s easier. But for me, he deserved the opportunity because the team is very comfortable. The team plays very good. We have big wins. So for me he deserved this opportunity.
‘He played at this level. You know what the players’ feelings are. (Carlo) Ancelotti, he is a big manager because he understands. He played. He knows what the players need to listen to, and he pushes, but he knows the time to push. He (Carrick) knows. So for me he deserves it. Absolutely, in my opinion, he should stay.
‘He’s very intelligent. But for me, the best thing he knows about the club. He understands the club.’
United are set to go into the transfer market this summer to replace Casemiro, though it is understood they are happy with the squad that is being built after splashing out last year.
He added that United have a ‘problem’ with Michael Carrick (right) because ‘he deserves to stay’ on as manager
Casemiro was asked who the big influences in the dressing room are at United. After picking Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes, he gave a shock name – goalkeeper Tom Heaton.
‘He pushes in training,’ Casemiro added. ‘The first thing is that he pushes the training. He pushes the training every time.
‘Of course, he doesn’t play, but he pushes every time. And he explains his experience. He explains, because he speaks English very well. But for me, every room needs one Tom. Every room needs this guy because he helps the room too much.
Head to the Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel to watch part 2 of the full interview live from 8 am on Wednesday 13th May
