Kobbie Mainoo: Profile, playing style, scouting report

The young midfielder impressed in pre-season for the Red Devils

A number of contenders have stepped up to the expectations and delivered impressive performances in United’s friendlies against Leeds and Lyon, but there’s one contender who has particularly stood out, dynamic midfielder, Kobbie Mainoo. Kobbie Mainoo is considered to be one of the most talented players in the famous Manchester United youth academy along with other exciting prospects.

Kobbie Mainoo's performances, including a good midfield display against Carlisle United in the EFL Trophy, earned him a call-up to the senior squad for training in October 2022. Mainoo made his competitive debut for United on 10 January 2023, starting in a 3–0 EFL Cup win over Charlton Athletic.

Past Experience

He began his footballing career at Cheadle & Gatley Junior Football Club, before joining Manchester United at the age of nine. He rose through the Manchester United Youth Ranks very quickly and was a prominent feature within the FA Youth Cup winning squad of the 2021-22 season. He made his league debut on 19 February by coming on as a substitute in a 3–0 win against Leicester City. Mainoo has represented England at under-17, under-18 and under-19 levels. He is also eligible to represent Ghana.

Kobbie Mainoo's Stats

He played 28 matches in U-18 Premier League scored two goals and provided one assist. Made 17 appearances in Premier League 2 there also he scored two goals and provided two assists. Four appearances in UEFA Youth League but was not able to score any goals. Last season only made one appearance in the Premier League. Made one appearance in the FA Cup and EFL Cup.

Type of Player

He is a powerful box-to-box midfielder with very good playmaking skills. A player with a very good body mass ratio, physical strength, power, stamina, and natural fitness who feels comfortable in contact situations. Mainoo is fantastic at drawing and evading pressure, and his decision-making for releasing the ball at the right time is excellent.

He is also very good at controlling the tempo and seems to have a natural instinct for either speeding up or slowing down the play. He also has incredible close control. In terms of his passing, Mainoo is fairly productive at getting the ball into the final third. He possesses high stamina, energy, and the ability to make dangerous runs through the middle of the park.

Similar type of players

Mainoo is often compared to another former United player and fellow academy product, Paul Pogba, and there are definitely similarities and differences between the two. During Pogba’s second stint at Old Trafford, it often felt like he was being forced into deeper positions, limiting his potential. Kobbie Mainoo, however, is poised to thrive in these roles. A creative player with superb technical ability, 1vs1 short-dribbling skills, close ball control, and fast direction shifts in possession just like Pogba.