Man Utd have Casemiro replacement as club legends gobsmacked by Mainoo – Footymercato.com

Dennis Irwin echoed the sentiment of the fellow club legend after Mainoo helped United to a 2-0 win over Arsenal, telling MUTV: “He’s had a fantastic game Kobbie. Brave, good on the ball. It’s not just the assist, the defensive work as well. He’s got confidence, he looks a real top player. What I’ve seen from Mainoo, what the manager’s seen in training and matches, he must trust him.”

Ten Hag leaned on the teenager to protect the United defence in pre-season and drive the ball forward and into his more attacking teammates, with the ex-Ajax boss naming Mainoo in his starting XI to face Real Madrid in a major vote of confidence. Asked whether he was shocked by the decision, former Red Devils forward Andy Cole claimed that he wasn’t as he believes the playmaker is more than capable of making an impact in the first team.

“I think he has got a massive future ahead of him,” he continued. “If he keeps playing like that. He is playing like that at 18, it is all in front of him. His pre-season performances have cemented him in Manchester United’s squad going forward.”