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Kobbie Mainoo has had an incredible first season at United.
After graduating from the United academy in January 2023, Mainoo featured primarily for the rest of the season in the Under-21s team, only making 3 appearances for the senior squad totalling a combined 87 minutes of game time.
This season however couldn’t be more different, having only missed first team football due to an ankle injury at the start of the year. Upon his return from injury, Mainoo has been on fire, making 32 appearances across all competitions.
The 19-year-old has been absolutely instrumental to Erik ten Hag’s plans, even bagging the winning goal in the FA Cup Final against rivals Manchester City, ending the game 2-1. Not just a goal to have won the trophy, but also to have secured the Red Devil’s place in European football next year.
With such an impressive season, it came as no surprise when Gareth Southgate named the youngster in his 33 man shortlist for the European Championships in Germany this summer.
Mainoo is one of six players alongside Conor Gallagher, Curtis Jones, Declan Rice, Adam Wharton and defender Trent Alexander-Arnold to be named as midfielders in the England Pre-Euro training camp, then end of which will see the 33 names whittled down to 26 to attend the tournament.
With such a big international call up, beating previous internationally capped players like Jordan Henderson, Kalvin Phillips and Jadon Sancho, it’s completely understandable that United would want to retain the youngster for years to come by agreeing a new contract.
However, the Daily Star have announced that whilst Mainoo has agreed to the offer in principle, he wants to hold off and focus on international duty before coming back to contract negotiations once the tournament is over.
The deal in question is reported to be quadrupling the 19-year-old’s wages to £80,000 per week, with the securing of Mainoo’s signature being one of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s top priorities.
