Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick don express joy over Kobbie Mainoo new contract, wey go keep di midfielder at Old Trafford until summer of 2031. Di deal announce on Thursday, and Carrick talk about am for Friday pre-Liverpool press conference for Carrington.
Carrick say he dey over di moon to see Mainoo commit long-term to di club, calling di Academy graduate di epitome of Manchester United. According to Carrick, Mainoo show wetin di club stand for—young players wey come through Academy, wey live and breathe di club, and wey carry real talent.
Mainoo, wey make senior debut for 2023, don start 12 of 13 matches since Carrick take over for January. Carrick say di contract na natural step for di 21-year-old, wey don achieve plenty for short time. For press conference, Carrick yarn say: “I’ve been hugely impressed with Kobbie since I’ve been here. I think I’ve known him for quite some time in different capacities, but I’ve certainly been aware of him for a long time. He epitomises this football club, you know? Young players coming through the Academy, who live and breathe the club and come through with real talent. He’s shown what he’s doing, I think the last couple of games, in particular, he’s been fantastic. The natural thing and the evolution is to sign a new contract and everyone’s over the moon with that, including me, because I think he deserves it.”
Before Carrick appointment, Mainoo no start any Premier League match for di season. But since di new boss come, he don form strong partnership for midfield with Casemiro, wey dey leave di club. Carrick say di idea na to give Mainoo freedom and platform to be di best version of himself. He talk say: “Like [with] all the players I think, [when you arrive you are just] trying to get that relationship and understanding, building relationships. Certainly understanding what it had looked like for Kobbie over the last two or three years, the ups and the downs and the big highs and some challenging times. Letting him thrive, just giving him that platform to go and be himself [has been important]. He’s evolved, he’s improving all the time. I think you can see that, with more confidence, more responsibility, more belief. He keeps adding to his game and he’s certainly done that. So just giving him that platform and that opportunity to go and be the best version. As I just said, he’s done fantastic and there’s loads more to come. I keep saying that because he’s just a young man. He’s in a great spot at the moment.”
Mainoo form under Carrick don help am return to England squad for March. From club side, he just two appearances away from reaching 100 matches for Man United, di club wey he join as six-year-old. Carrick talk about wetin Mainoo fit achieve by 2031, when he go still be mid-20s: “Hopefully, he’s here for a long time and he’s part of successful teams that win things, win trophies. That has to be the aim. It’s not going to be easy, it’s not going to be straightforward but that’s the challenge. That’s got to be the aim of Kobbie, to be the best version of himself and keep pushing, keep improving. Certainly to have the platform of a team and the football club in a good place to keep pushing forward and we want to be competing for the biggest of trophies. We’ve done it in the past and we need to do it again.”
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