Manchester United young star Kobbie Mainoo dey set to sign new five-year contract with di club. Di deal na big one wey go keep am at Old Trafford for di foreseeable future.
Mainoo just show why United dey rush to tie am down during dia win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Di boy play like say na veteran, no be like person wey just return to training two days before di match.
Michael Carrick, United coach, talk say na di best performance wey Mainoo put since e return. “I think e look so composed, so calm, get good presence about am,” Carrick yarn for press conference. “E defend well, and e show plenty quality for tough environment.”
Di statistics confirm wetin everybody see. Mainoo record 91 percent pass accuracy, touch ball 70 times, win three tackles and make three interceptions. E defensive work na crucial one for second half.
But di story nearly different. Chelsea bin dey monitor Mainoo situation before. When Ruben Amorim bin dey United coach, Mainoo don slip down pecking order and contract negotiations bin dey stuck. Chelsea for don pounce if opportunity present itself.
Thank God say Mainoo outlast Amorim. Di Portuguese coach no believe for di academy graduate. Amorim talk say Mainoo get deficiencies for defensive side of game, but e never give am proper run of games to prove himself.
Irony be say if Amorim start Mainoo for midfield, e fit still dey United job today. Di boy performance fit help improve results and reduce pressure on di former coach.
Casemiro, Mainoo midfield partner, know di boy value well well. Di Brazilian sweep Mainoo off hin feet after full-time against Chelsea because e know how important Mainoo bin dey for di victory. Casemiro talk say “Kobbie na di present and di future.”
Amorim fit argue say taking Mainoo out of team sharpen hin mind and make am improve. True talk be say Mainoo evaluate every aspect of hin lifestyle before season start. E change private chef at home and work with private coach during international breaks.
“Some of una think say Kobbie Mainoo don finish already. I think e fit do better, e fit improve for plenty areas,” Amorim talk for September press conference. “Maybe no fair, but I think I dey help Kobbie Mainoo.”
But Amorim feelings about Mainoo bin wrong. Di 21-year-old midfielder now dey impossible for England coach Thomas Tuchel to ignore. Mainoo performance don make am strong contender for England World Cup squad dis summer.
Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro wey start together for Amorim two-man midfield surely for question di former boss view of Mainoo. Dem know wetin di boy fit bring to table.
Manchester Evening News don hear say Mainoo “love” to play with Casemiro. Di chemistry between dem dey clear for all to see.
Mainoo future bin dey throw into doubt during Amorim tenure, but now e dey at heart of club for next 10 years. When Mainoo do hin first interview with external media for 2024, press officer smile as dem talk say e go be United mixed zone representative every four weeks for next decade.
Di Stockport-born midfielder don excellent for Carrick, wey reinstate am to starting XI as one of hin first acts. “E change some players,” Bruno Fernandes talk recently when dem ask am about Carrick impact.
Mainoo relationship with Amorim don fracture by di end of hin tenure. Mainoo bin dey starter for United and England before Amorim appointment, but e turn bench warmer for club after.
You no fit blame Mainoo for frustration. Carrick don help am get back on track, and di cherry on cake go be inclusion for England World Cup squad.
United must build around di midfielder for next 10 years. As Casemiro talk, Mainoo na di future. Di new five-year deal na step in right direction.
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