Manchester United possess two of football’s great young talents right now in Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.

Carrington has been serving Erik ten Hag with the goods of late with Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo becoming stars in successive campaigns.

Manchester United saw Mainoo go from the crown jewel of the academy to the club’s and England’s best midfielder in merely eight months – an incredible rise for Mainoo.

Now though, Mainoo is gearing up for the biggest game of his career and the chance to make history with England.

In the build-up, Wayne Rooney has had plenty to say about the 19-year-old superstar.

Kobbie Mainoo of England during the UEFA EURO 2024 semi-final match between Netherlands and England at Football Stadium Dortmund on July 10, 2024 i...
Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images

Wayne Rooney praises Kobbie Mainoo and tips him to be the match-winner vs Spain

As the kick-off in Berlin for the final draws ever closer now Rooney has explained why Mainoo is the best young talent in the game.

Rooney wrote this in a column with The Times which saw him explain why Mainoo is better than the likes of Lamine Yamal and Jude Bellingham.

“The other youngsters — [Nico] Williams, Yamal, Bellingham, [Phil] Foden — all play in attacking positions whereas Mainoo, at 19, is excelling in one that requires enormous discipline and game understanding.”

The United legend didn’t stop there though, as he also made a bold prediction for the final on Sunday night, admitting he thinks Mainoo will score the winning goal.

“I just have a feeling about Mainoo and the final. That he is going to score and prove decisive.

“If you think of him in the tournament, he has got into good positions going forward and I think Spain will do their homework and close off space for Harry Kane, Foden, Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham.

“But that will leave space for a midfielder arriving late, and that Mainoo will get one from a cut-back.”

This is the end to the game nearly every United fan would like to see.

Kobbie Mainoo has been immense at Euro 2024

Ever since Gareth Southgate put his faith in Mainoo from half-time against Slovenia, the Old Trafford gem has been a shining light in this team.

Mainoo has been hugely important to the improvements seen especially over the past three games.

Stat per 90#Percentile
Expected assists0.1477th
Passing accuracy93.9%88th
Long ball accuracy80%73rd
Touches in opponents box2.4092nd
Duels won 61.9%86th
Interceptions1.8086th
Blocks1.2093rd
Possession won final 3rd0.9081st
As per FotMob

Mainoo’s excellent displays have proven Jamie Carragher wrong but will have come as no surprise to United supporters who are well accustomed to watching the brilliance unfold from the No.37.

If Mainoo returns to Carrington with a Euro 2024 winners medal, he will be filled with even more confidence which is scary for the Premier League.

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