Former Manchester United academy coach Dean Whitehouse has said that he could “die a happy man” if he could see Kobbie Mainoo play with one player in midfield.
Kobbie Mainoo had a remarkable breakout season at Old Trafford under former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag in the 2023-24 campaign.
The 19-year-old Stockport-born player returned from a pre-season injury in 2023 to establish himself as a regular starter in the United first team.
Mainoo became a linchpin midfield figure under Erik ten Hag, who was sacked by United last month, and earned widespread praise for his performances last season.
The United midfielder’s stunning run of form at Old Trafford in the 2023-24 season also led to Mainoo earning his senior England call-up back in March.
Mainoo built on an impressive campaign for United by representing England at Euro 2024 in Germany in the summer under former Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate.
Whitehouse on Mainoo and ex-Man Utd talent
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Dean Whitehouse opened up about his experience of working with Kobbie Mainoo and Angel Gomes.
Angel Gomes has been able to make a name for himself away from Old Trafford after he left Manchester United and signed for Lille in 2020.
The 24-year-old, who was part of United’s youth academy, has been able to reinvent himself as a player at Lille and secured regular first-team action at the French club.
Gomes’ impressive run at Lille also led to his senior England call-up by Three Lions interim manager Lee Carsley during the September international break.
Whitehouse firmly believed that the England international could have “definitely” made it at Old Trafford if he had the chance to show his true potential.
The former United academy coach added that there “would be nothing better than” to see Gomes alongside Mainoo in United’s midfield for “many years to come.”
“Angel and Rico, they are just little Mancs. His mum and dad obviously come from an international background, but these two are born and bred little Mancs, and they’re great characters,” Whitehouse said.
“So you’re devastated [when Angel leaves]. As a coach who’s coached there for a long time, for me now, there would be nothing better than Kobbie and Angel, the Manchester United midfield for many years to come, I’d die a happy man. He could definitely have made it there.”
Lee Unsworth on ex-Man Utd talent Gomes
Angel Gomes, who made 10 senior appearances for the Red Devils, has been linked with a stunning return to Old Trafford next summer.
The Three Lions star is out of contract with Lille next summer and Gomes has even refused to rule out the idea of returning to the Red Devils.
Lee Unsworth, who was one of Gomes’ first coaches at United, has raved about seeing the rise of the Lille star and England midfielder Mainoo.
“To see Angel slapping hands with Kobbie, it’s utopia,” he added.
“You’re seeing two boys that you’ve been around and you’ve had some time with, and you’ve maybe helped along the way in some respect, coming and playing for England at the same time. It’s just fantastic.”
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