Casemiro has insisted that the sky is the limit for Manchester United and England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo ahead of his Old Trafford exit in the summer.
Kobbie Mainoo has climbed back into the Manchester United starting XI since January after former Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim was sacked by the club.
Michael Carrick has relied on the 20-year-old England international’s midfield capabilities and played him alongside Casemiro in the two-man pivot in his system.
Mainoo has started every Premier League match under United legend Michael Carrick so far and has completed the full 90 minutes on nine of the 10 occasions.
How worried are you about Kobbie Mainoo not yet signing a new contract?
Man Utd star Casemiro on what he expects to see from England star Kobbie Mainoo at Old Trafford
Casemiro will be Kobbie Mainoo’s Manchester United teammate for the next seven Premier League matches before his Old Trafford spell comes to an end in June.
The 34-year-old Brazilian defensive midfielder is out of contract at the end of the 2025-26 campaign and United do not plan to trigger his 12-month extension.
Casemiro, much like Mainoo, has been a key midfield influence for the Red Devils under Michael Carrick’s Man Utd tactics since Ruben Amorim was axed.
Speaking to the Red Devils’ club media, Casemiro is confident that Mainoo will hold both a short-term and long-term influence in the Man Utd midfield at Old Trafford.
“Kobbie is the present and the future,” he said, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“I think that he is one of the best No 8s and can be for that for the next 12 years. He is a player I really like.
“He always wants the ball. It is true that football can’t change your mentality, but Kobbie demonstrated that he hasn’t changed his focus once.”
What is YOUR reaction to Kobbie Mainoo’s recall for England?
What is Ruben Amorim thinking right now?!
Casemiro praises Kobbie Mainoo’s impact on the big moments for both Man Utd and England
Mainoo’s run of form under Carrick allowed the Stockport-born talent to climb back into the England team for the March international break under Thomas Tuchel.
Casemiro has claimed that the United youth academy product has shown his maturity and ‘importance’ for both the Red Devils and the Three Lions already.
“He has to continue focusing like he is now and continue playing the important role he is now,” he added.
“But what a player he is, he is a great player. He has demonstrated this in the Euros final with England, he has demonstrated it in finals, [and] he scored in the FA Cup [in the 2024 final win over Manchester City].
“Kobbie is the present and the future.”
Mainoo has made 24 appearances across all competitions for Man Utd in the 2025-26 season and the Three Lions international has three assists to his name so far.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
