WHEN Casemiro won his first Champions League title, Kobbie Mainoo was a nine-year-old pupil at Cheadle Catholic Junior School who had just embarked on his tentative first steps to a career in football.
Mainoo joined United that year, but back then making it into the first team at Old Trafford was a pipe dream. But the prodigious midfielder has always had the game and the character to make an impression and by his teenage years, he was earmarked as someone who had more than a fair chance.
That progression has accelerated under Erik ten Hag this season. Mainoo caught the eye of the United manager in pre-season and although his progress was curtailed by an ankle injury, he was immediately restored to the senior set-up when he returned and has now started nine games in a row.
The last three of them have been alongside Casemiro, a five-times Champions League winner and 75-cap Brazil international who knows a thing or two about making it to the top of the game as a midfield player.
This story is from the February 11, 2024 edition of MEN on Sunday.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 11, 2024 edition of MEN on Sunday.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Pep says striker cried foul over the lack of free kicks awarded
ERLING Haaland was annoyed at the lack of fouls he had been awarded in Manchester City's win over Wolves when replaced, according to Pep Guardiola.
Time to give Mount chance a to make his mark on season
THE season is almost over and Mason Mount has made just four Premier League starts.
Ingredients for a perfect weekend as United target Europa League
MANCHESTER United will be targeting a first Premier League away win since February when they travel to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace on Monday night.
Warren: 'Fury will do Usyk at his own game'
FRANK Warren believes Tyson Fury will 'do Oleksandr Usyk at his own game' and warned fans about reading too much into the British fighter's performance against Francis Ngannou last year.
An appealing walk and Sunday lunch
Emma Gill works up an appetite by heading to the Peel Tower
'No surprise people living shorter lives'
THE author of a host of major publications exposing health inequalities in the UK and further afield, Professor Sir Michael Marmot is unquestionably one of the world's leading health equity experts.
Teen shoplifter banned from dozens of stores
Criminal Behaviour Order covers retailers across region
Founders' vision still alive after 170 years
Luxury furnishers reflect on proud history - and look to a bright future
Fish, chips &... piano
THERE'S no shortage of chippies across Greater Manchester, but there aren't many fully fledged chippy restaurants around, especially ones with an in-house pianist.
Two ceilings collapse at crumbling hospital
Patients in critical care unit affected as situation described as 'dangerous'
