Gary Neville claims Manchester United youngster Kobbie Mainoo already has the attributes of a Pep Guardiola player.
The Red Devils’ starlet shone on his full Premier League debut for the club in their 3-0 victory over Everton at Goodison Park. The 18-year-old’s display at Goodison Park is likely to have been enough to force himself into contention for the remainder of the campaign.
Erik ten Hag and a number of his United teammates were highly complimentary of Mainoo’s display on Merseyside. Red Devils icon Neville was also among those impressed and claimed that the young midfielder would not look out of place at the Etihad Stadium.
Speaking after Sunday’s win, the former defender said: “The biggest compliment I can pay him, and it hurts to say this, I hope people can take this in the right spirit… he looked like a Manchester City player.
“Honestly, I was watching him and thinking, ‘that’s a player that Pep Guardiola will be looking at and thinking, ‘I want him in my midfield, that’s what my midfield players do’. Thankfully Man United have got him because he looks so composed, so graceful, always looking over his shoulder, knowing where everyone is, letting it run across his body.
“At 18 to be doing that out there, he’ll have tougher games, he’s got a long challenge in front of him, there’ll be injuries, ups and downs, there will be other players coming in, he’s playing at a club with huge demands. But that was very, very good.”
While Neville claimed that Mainoo wouldn’t have looked out of place alongside Guardiola’s treble winners, fellow United icon Roy Keane also offered some glowing praise.
He said: “Unbelievable. Listen, don’t want to get too carried away but I’m sure we will. He looked like he always had time on the ball today. His decision making, in terms of when to go long, when to go short. Off the ball as well. What a phenomenal performance.
“Listen, good luck to the kid, he was outstanding. It’s a great start for him. Let’s hope he stays injury free, he gets a run of games for Man United because he looked like a Man United type player today. Nice and brave, lots of courage, loved watching him.”