Earlier this week, a couple of tweets dated all the way back to 2016 re-emerged on social media.
At the time, a Manchester United youth team was taking on Polish outfit Akademia Pilkarska Wisly Krakow in the Murapol Cup. And the performance of the Red Devils‘ baby-faced number ten certainly caught the eye, a number of interested observers taking to Twitter and asking just who on earth was this slaloming through challenges and playing with the poise and the maturity of a man twenty years his senior.
A player who caught the eye of Juventus – amongst others – after only a few glimpses of the outrageous talent that is starting to become a very common sight. Not only in the Premier League but on the international stage too.
“From the tournament observers to the organisers, to the staff of other teams, including Juventus, where the coaches themselves asked if I knew anything more about him,” former coach Pawel Klama recalls of his time working alongside an 11-year-old Kobbie Mainoo, speaking to talkSPORT.
“(Juventus) were interested in him, but that’s pretty much it. Most of the teams were impressed by him, how he plays, how mature he is at this stage of learning how to play football.”
Juventus showed interest in Manchester United star
Seven years on, Mainoo’s rapid rise to prominence is showing no signs of slowing. It’s milestone after milestone these days, Man United’s teen sensation following up his Red Devils debut with a maiden goal in January. Then came that Wolves stunner, a Premier League Goal of the Month award, a dazzling performance against Liverpool in the FA Cup, an England debut and – on Tuesday – a Man of the Match award following his first ever Three Lions start.
Klama, meanwhile, is not the first to use the word ‘generational’ to describe Mainoo.
“What distinguished him at this age – at the U11 team level – he was self-confident. He had no fear,” Klama adds, comments that can be applied to Mainoo now, an 18-year-old going up agianst far more experienced players every week and usually coming out on top.
“He played great with the ball at his feet and had a definitely outstanding technique. However, what attracted attention the most was how he led the team at such a young ag. He was, I don’t want to call him a leader, but the other boys listened to him. it was obvious that he had something.
“He was definitely one of those young boys who immediately attracted attention. And, as I have been observing the Manchester academy for almost 15 years, he is for sure one of the most generational talents in the academy.
“We all know about the Class of 92’, but honestly I’ve never seen then or now a kiddo like him.”
‘Generational’ Mainoo named England’s MOTM
It is a member of that fated ‘Class of 92’ who comes to mind whenever Klama watches Mainoo in action.
You might assume he’s thinking of Paul Scholes, given their respective positions on the pitch. Klama, however, feels that Mainoo’s fearlessness and his willingness to grab a game by the scruff of the neck at such a young age is reminiscent of another legendary Carrington graduate.
“Now, he will be in the spotlight and he will have to deal with it,” the coach adds. “(Mainoo must learn to) cope with pressure, recognition, fame.
“I believe he will cope with all that matters. Many compare him to (Paul) Pogba but when it comes to possibilities, self-confidence, and character, I would rather compare him to (David) Beckham.”
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