Endrick may have grabbed headlines as Brazil defeated England on Saturday night, but we’re only interested in one of the wonderkids on display at Wembley Stadium.
He doesn’t really need an introduction at this point, but we’re talking about Kobbie Mainoo.
In a lackluster match at Wembley, United fans were expecting for a sight of Mainoo in an England shirt.
With 15 minutes to go, Mainoo was introduced alongside United colleague Marcus Rashford.
Mainoo replaced Conor Gallagher in midfield and demonstrated the grace, control, and technical excellence that we have already seen in a United shirt.
The 18-year-old didn’t look out of place, but he could only watch as Endrick won it with 10 minutes to go, giving Brazil the win.
Mainoo’s international future remains uncertain; while he now has his first England cap, he could yet choose to play for Ghana.
Gareth Southgate is currently in charge of securing Mainoo for England, which requires competitive appearances.
Gareth Southgate discusses Kobbie Mainoo
Southgate was chastised for not calling Mainoo up sooner, despite the teenager not only breaking into the United first squad but also appearing to be a seasoned professional.
After a few injuries, Mainoo was promoted to the senior team, and Southgate has now given his thoughts on the United wonder kid’s performance.
Southgate told The Independent after the game that Mainoo’s debut against Brazil was a’strange circumstance’.
Southgate thought he needed to freshen up his midfield and carefully manage his players, so this was an opportunity for Mainoo to gain international experience.
Southgate went on to say that this was a genuinely ‘great’ moment for Mainoo, and he saw very positive signals from the’really composed’ United prospect.
“Kobbie was a chance to dip his toes,” said Southgate. “We needed to refresh some of the team because we’ve got to manage their minutes a little bit, so that’s a strange situation when it’s a game of that size but that’s where we are.”
“Getting Kobbie on the pitch was a fantastic experience for him and his family. You saw a few of turns and some really composed moments that give you a sense of what he could become,” he said.
Mainoo in the running for Euro 2024
Mainoo had a very encouraging night, and it wasn’t only because of his personal performance.
Conor Gallagher started in midfield but failed to impress, certainly not enough to establish himself as the undisputed starter alongside Declan Rice.
Kalvin Phillips has slipped from the picture, while Jordan Henderson’s injury has pushed Mainoo up the England rankings.
Don’t be shocked if Mainoo plays additional minutes against Belgium in midweek; a strong performance would put him right in the fight for Euro 2024.
Yes, Mainoo hasn’t played much football, but he is absolutely remarkable.
Manchester United fans are aware of this, and the prospect’s momentum has grown significantly following his England debut on Saturday.