Michael Carrick spoke to the press about Kobbie Mainoo after the Manchester United starlet put pen to paper on a new contract.
There was a feeling of relief when Manchester United announced Kobbie Mainoo’s new deal on Thursday, keeping him at Old Trafford for the next five years.
Although an agreement has been expected for some time, since Mainoo’s resurgence under Michael Carrick, to be more precise, there was a time when the academy graduate faced an uncertain future at United due to being overlooked and mismanaged by Ruben Amorim.
Mainoo is now a mainstay in United’s starting line-up amid an ongoing search for a new midfield partner.
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Michael Carrick happy with new Kobbie Mainoo deal
Carrick was full of praise for Mainoo when he held his press conference at Carrington on Friday afternoon.
After coming through the ranks at United, the 21-year-old has signed a deal that means the decision-makers at Old Trafford believe he will be part of the club’s plans for the coming years.
Amorim saw things differently, but Carrick was keen to hail his young midfielder as journalists asked about the new contract.
Carrick believes Mainoo epitomises United as a football club given how he developed in the academy and has set himself up for a bright future in the first team.
“I have been hugely impressed with Kobbie, since I have been here,” Carrick told reporters when initially asked about Mainoo.
“I’ve known him quite some time in different capacities but been aware of him a long time. He epitomises this football club, young players coming through the academy living and breathing the club, coming through with real talent.
“The last couple of games he has been fantastic. The natural thing and the evolution is to sign a new contract. Everyone is over the moon, including me because I think he deserves it.”
Mainoo is now an example that fellow young players, like Shea Lacey, should take inspiration from.
- ⚡️ NEWS IN BRIEF
- Michael Carrick breaks his silence on Kobbie Mainoo’s new contract
- Carrick believes Mainoo epitomises Manchester United
- Mainoo signed a new five-year deal this week
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Michael Carrick sets new objective for Kobbie Mainoo
After signing a new deal, Mainoo is challenged with starring in a midfield that will be revamped in the summer.
Casemiro’s exit at the end of the season means Mainoo will have a new partner, or potentially two, in the middle of the pitch.
Carrick told the press that he wants Mainoo to kick on after signing a new deal and being part of United teams that deliver trophies.
“Like all the players I had to get that connection and understanding in the relationship,” he added.
“Understanding what that looked like for Kobbie over the last, two to three years. And then the ups and downs, the big highs and some challenging times. We just let him thrive and have that platform to be himself.
“He has evolved, he has improved all the time, you can see that with the more responsibility, more confidence, more belief he keeps adding to his game. We just gave him that platform and that opportunity to go and be the best version, he has done fantastic.
“There is loads more to come, I keep saying that for some time because he is such a young man. He is in a great spot at the moment.
“Hopefully he is here for a long time and he is part of successful teams. Winning trophies. That has to be the aim. It is not going to be easy or straightforward but that’s gotta be the challenge and the aim of Kobbie to be the best version of himself and keep pushing and improving.
“Certainly, we need to have the platform of a team and a football club needs to be in a good place to push forward as well. We want to be competing for the biggest of trophies. We have done it in the past and we need to do it again.”
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