Kobbie Mainoo breakthrough was the moment Zidane Iqbal spell at Manchester United was over

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Manchester United youngster Zidane Iqbal is set to leave the club – and his departure is not a total surprise.

Zidane Iqbal was the breakout star of Manchester United’s pre-season in 2022, but it did not translate to first team opportunities.

United kept Iqbal around all season rather than send him on loan. He was named on the bench 17 times, without playing a single minute.

Iqbal needed to move on, and while many expected a loan deal, The Athletic reports he is set to sign with FC Utrecht for £860,000.

READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfers in, out, loans, releases, youth for 2023/24

Kobbie Mainoo breakthrough sealed Iqbal fate

Erik ten Hag took an initial liking to Zidane Iqbal last summer, so what changed? Well, the straightforward conclusion is that the Iraq international midfielder was overtaken.

A whole season working with Manchester United’s squad allowed Ten Hag to assess his options more closely, and he turned to a player who did not even travel on the club’s pre-season tour, Kobbie Mainoo.

By time United travelled on the winter friendlies to Spain, even though Iqbal featured, it was Mainoo who grabbed the attention, scoring against Cadiz.

He was quickly promoted into the first team squad, and started the Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Charlton. Iqbal was an unused substitute.

This was the moment when it became clear Mainoo had overtaken Iqbal, and he followed this up with appearances in the FA Cup and Premier League.

It wasn’t a surprise. In fact, Iqbal’s rise to prominence last pre-season was more surprising that Mainoo’s inevitable surge to the first team.

Mainoo played a lead role in Manchester United’s FA Youth Cup win in 2022, starring throughout despite being among the youngest players in the squad at 16.

Now 17, he is three-years younger than 20-year-old Iqbal, and Ten Hag appears to have taken the view that there is more upside to Mainoo’s game.

The manager was quoted by The MEN: “We want to develop players into the first team. So I think we are also in that perspective in a good way: Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo is also on his way. There is a pathway to the first team but they have to deserve it.”

His season ended a little early due to injury, but he is expected to play a prominent role in pre-season.

There is more depth too, with Dan Gore training with the first team and making good progress, along with Isak Hansen-Aaroen, who is set to feature in pre-season.

At 20, and having lost a whole season where he could have been playing, Iqbal could no longer wait. Mainoo has time on his side, and it looks like he was further ahead in Ten Hag’s view too.