Ghanaian midfielder Kobbie Mainoo opens up on how Casemiro influenced his career

UK-born of Ghanaian descent, Kobbie Mainoo has revealed how Manchester United midfielder, Casemiro influenced his career.

Having made his debut in a League Cup tie against Charlton three years ago, Mainoo swiftly made his Premier League bow too, coming on as a substitute in a 3-0 victory over Leicester six weeks later.

Speaking to TNT Sports, the promising midfielder admits there was one player in particular who he was thrilled to call a team-mate.

“Casemiro,” he said. “Every time I used to get FIFA, I always used to get him in midfield.

“For a good three or four FIFAs in a row, he was always in my starting team.

“It was crazy going into training with him, and at the time that he came, Ronaldo was there as well.

“That was surreal. Just to see them in training and how they train was a weird feeling.”

Mainoo’s debut came under Erik ten Hag, but it was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who initially threw the England international into first-team training.

The Norwegian had left the club by the time the midfielder made his competitive bow. But he still gave Mainoo a chance to shine in a match on home soil.

“It was a behind-closed-doors friendly at Old Trafford and I had just played a couple of days before,” he continued.

“My Under-18s coach came to me and said, ‘the first team need a player. Is your body okay’?

“I was like, ‘yeah’!

“Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was the coach at the time. I just went in and got 20 minutes and it was just crazy.

“That was my first ever experience. I don’t know If I’d even trained with the first team at that point.

“It was just crazy seeing Cavani and players like that.”

Mainoo had to wait until the 2023/24 campaign to nail down a place in the United team.

But he soon forced his way into Ten Hag’s plans, making 32 appearances over the course of the season.

Indeed, he impressed so much, that an England call from Gareth Southgate was just around the corner.

The midfielder was fast-tracked into The Three Lions side who finished runners-up at Euro 2024.

“I got to the under-21s and then I met the assistant manager, and he told me I had got the full call-up,” he added.

“I was buzzing. I went back to my room and called my mum, called my dad, my brother and sister.

“It was so special.”

The 19-year-old has lifted one trophy so far, the 2023/24 FA Cup, when United beat bitter rivals Manchester City in the final at Wembley.