When discussing Manchester United academy prospects who break through and establish themselves long-term, Kobbie Mainoo stands out as perhaps the sole success story of late.
For most others, however, the trajectory follows a familiar arc. Initial excitement and buzz, whether emerging from the youth system or being recruited from competitors, a substitute appearance or unexpected starting role, speculation about their potential growth, followed by a gradual fading from the spotlight.
Chido Obi represents the latest to fit this mold. His arrival following the expiration of his ****** nal deal was viewed as a significant acquisition.
-Credit:Ash Donelon, Manchester United via Getty Images
At 15, he was already participating in first-team training with the Gunners, and the young forward once netted 10 goals in a single match as the ****** nal U16s demolished Liverpool 14-3.

#manchester #arsenal #kobbie #getty

Manchester United looked very good in the second half against Ipswich Town on Sunday, but the side's goals did not come from the forward line. Harry Maguire, Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo were the driving force behind the three goals, with the captain recording his first hat-trick in five years.
The front three of Matheus Cunha at striker and Marcus Rashford and Bryan Mbeumo on the flanks did not look poor. Cunha **** isted Bruno's first goal and Mbeumo finished an odd chip for the fifth and final goal, meanwhile Rashford had two excellent chances denied by the goalkeeper and last-ditch defending. There was balance, but it was still evidently a solution to a personnel problem.
Amad's preseason injury made the right wing options limited to Mbeumo, despite the Cameroonian's emergence as a good No. 9 option this season. Benjamin Sesko missed the entire preseason but has been fit enough to make appearances off the bench. Cunha, who typically played on the left last season, played as a No. 9 for Brazil at the World Cup and fit there with Rashford as a natural option on the left.
The options aren't bad for Michael Carrick to choose from. All three players have been flexible positionally in their careers and offer a balance of qualities. Rashford looked particularly comfortable playing with Luke Shaw again and he made a good effort out of possession to stay involved as well. He didn't get the goal his performance might have deserved, but overall it was a good homecoming.
Cunha was the only real odd fit, operating similarly to Bruno Fernandes and dropping into similar areas. It allowed the No. 10 to make good runs beyond the striker, but Cunha's lack of striker presence was felt at times, especially in the first half.

#striker

Luke Shaw poured praise on Kobbie Mainoo after the youngster's 'phenomenal' display against Ipswich Town yesterday.
Manchester United secured their first win of 2026/2027 in emphatic fashion by defeating the newly-promoted Tractor Boys 5-2 at Old Trafford.
(Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Mainoo made his maiden start of the term after being limited to an off-the-bench cameo in the opening-day defeat to Hull City.
Michael Carrick was keen to restore the youngster to his rightful spot in the starting XI this time around, and opted to deploy Mainoo alongside the experienced Youri Tielemans – rather than 22-year-old Andrey Santos.

#LUKE #ipswich #united

Manchester United have completed the signing of midfielder Carlos Baleba from Brighton for a fee up to $95 million, to complete the Red Devils' expensive midfielder makeover during the transfer window.
The 22-year-old Cameroon international is the final piece of the puzzle for Michael Carrick's side after also adding Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos ($111 million combined) this summer. Put the new-boy trio alongside Bruno Fernandes and Man United's midfield has gone from definite weakness to potential strength, at least one paper.
Fernandes is fresh off breaking the Premier League's single-season ***** ist record with 21 last campaign as Man United finished 3rd after two terribly disappointing seasons down in 8th and 15th. The rest of the midfield was made up of Casemiro (33 PL starts), Kobbie Mainoo (16 starts) and a rotating carousel of Mason Mount (12) and Manuel Ugarte (8).
Casemiro ended up scoring nine goals last season (mostly from set pieces), but him and Ugarte were tasked with providing the defensive cover that gave Fernandes the freedom to win games in the final third. It worked well enough to get back in the UEFA Champions League, but Casemiro's age (34, now at Inter Miami) and Ugarte's lack of mobility (prior to tearing his ACL at the World Cup), and both player's lack of forward passing, meant they were a band-aid solution that needed ripping off sooner rather than later.
That's because this season, Man United have to win more games in which they dominate possession. They proved they can be a devastating attacking team with Fernandes feeding Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko and Amad Diallo, but they struggled terribly against opponents that defended deeper and flat out refused to give them ***** e in behind, instead setting up their own counter-attacks and — you guessed it — taking advantage of Man United's much slower defensive midfielders and defenders.

#midfielder #final

Manchester United have started the new Premier League season the hard way. A 2-0 defeat at Hull City exposed familiar problems, flat possession, a lack of incision and too little control in midfield when the game turned against them.
The immediate noise around Old Trafford centres on Carlos Baleba. Reports suggest United have agreed a £65m deal with Brighton for the midfielder, with the player understood to be progressing towards the final stages of the move. Carrick, predictably, said very little. "I had all eyes on (the match vs Hull) today so any other player, until he's ours, it's not for me to comment on." That is standard enough. Managers do not confirm business until the paperwork is done.
Photo IMAGO
Baleba's potential arrival matters because United looked short in key areas at Hull. The new midfield pairing of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans never imposed themselves and Hull took advantage early. United were two down by half-time and, from there, the afternoon became a test of nerve more than quality.
There were changes after the break. Marcus Rashford, Benjamin Sesko and Kobbie Mainoo were introduced, but the game never swung. United had more of the ball, Hull stayed organised and the home side managed the contest well.

#united #midfield #game #player

Manchester United will reportedly launch another attempt to sign young Leicester City midfielder Louis Page.
The Red Devils have seemingly completed their midfield revamp, as they're now close to buying Carlos Baleba from Brighton.
The Cameroonian will join a department that features fellow new signings Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, in addition to Kobbie Mainoo, while Tyler Fletcher and his twin brother Jack will offer extra depth when required.
While Man Utd's midfield department looks sorted, the club is also planning for the future. In recent days, it was reported that INEOS made an offer for Louis Page worth around £10 million, but it was rejected by Leicester.
The 18-year-old was promoted to the senior squad last season and went on to make 18 appearances in the Championship.

#leicester #manchester #city #devils

This was a pre-season finale to forget for Manchester United.
Just a week away from their Premier League opener at promoted Hull City on Saturday, Michael Carrick's men took the lead twice against AC Milan before finishing on the wrong end of a 4-2 beating.
First, the positives.
Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martinez all made their first appearances of pre-season. Skipper Bruno Fernandes and Youri Tielemans played for the full 90 minutes.
From the looks of it, there are no fresh injury concerns for Michael Carrick at the end of a six-match pre-season that has been largely positive, albeit with a foot issue for Mason Mount in Gothenburg seven days ago that was initially shrugged off as a precaution but has now kept the in-form midfielder out for almost three full games.

#season

Manchester United and PSG meet in a pre-season friendly on Saturday at the Ullevi Stadium.
Manchester United arrive with promising pre-season form under Michael Carrick. After a narrow 1-0 loss to Wrexham in their opening friendly, the Red Devils responded emphatically. They thrashed Rosenborg 5-0 and then claimed a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid in Stockholm. Carrick's team have shown attacking fluency and are gaining momentum as several senior internationals return to the squad.
Carrick welcomes back several senior internationals following their World Cup breaks.
New signing Youri Tielemans is expected to make his first official appearance for United, while skipper Bruno Fernandes and full-backs Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui have travelled and could play.
Bryan Mbeumo is likely to lead the attack after scoring twice in the 2-1 win against Atletico. But the squad also has significant absences. Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martinez remain unavailable because of required post-World Cup rest.

#carrick #senior

Manchester United face Atletico Madrid at the Strawberry Arena in Stockholm on Saturday afternoon in their third pre-season fixture of the summer.
Michael Carrick has resisted the temptation to rotate heavily between friendlies, preferring to give first-team players sustained minutes as the new season approaches. Saturday's match against Atletico represents by far the sternest test of United's preparations and an important benchmark for where the squad stands heading into August.
A long list of World Cup participants remain unavailable. Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martínez, Kobbie Mainoo, Matheus Cunha, Noussair Mazraoui and Marcus Rashford are all on extended post-tournament breaks and have not yet returned to Carrington.
Youri Tielemans completed his first training session at the club this week after arriving from Aston Villa in a £35m deal — but has been left out of the travelling squad for Stockholm. His debut will come in the coming days. Goalkeeper Senne Lammens is also not in the squad.
Benjamin Sesko is a major doubt with a shin injury that the club are carefully monitoring. Manuel Ugarte and Matthijs de Ligt are both sidelined with their own injury concerns and unavailable for selection. Amad Diallo has returned from his World Cup commitments with Ivory Coast and could feature in the squad.

#atletico #World #returned #injury

Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo has faced numerous challenges over the past two years.
After his fairytale breakout season in 2023/2024, he spent a significant amount of time injured during the following season and fell out of favour when Ruben Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag as head coach in November 2024.
Mainoo was often left on the bench and struggled to get any meaningful gametime under the Portuguese manager.
The midfielder was so unhappy with the situation that he was open to joining Italian side SSC Napoli on loan.
When Michael Carrick replaced Amorim as head coach in January of this year, Mainoo was immediately reinstated into the line-up and United's form improved, allowing them to finish third in the league.

Manchester United’s summer has acquired shape, purpose and, at last, a sense of football logic. In a transfer market that can often resemble a chase after noise, reputation and panic, the latest developments around Old Trafford suggest a club responding to clear need. According to The Athletic, United are moving decisively in midfield, with Youri Tielemans set to join and Andrey Santos already through the door, two deals that speak to necessity as much as ambition.
The original report was wide-ranging, taking in much of the Premier League and beyond, but the Manchester United portion stood out because it addressed the area where repair was most urgent. The line that cuts through everything is stark and revealing: “Manchester United accelerated their midfield rebuild and are now set to finalise a deal for Youri Tielemans.” It is a sentence that tells the story of a club aware of the shortages in its squad and finally acting with conviction.
Photo: IMAGO
Tielemans, available because of a “£35million release clause”, has emerged as a sharp market opportunity. United have “identified an opportunity to land the 29-year-old midfielder” and, crucially, “he favours a move to Old Trafford.” That matters. In every successful rebuild there is an emotional as well as tactical dimension. Players who want the shirt, who understand the weight of the place and who see themselves as contributors rather than mere arrivals, tend to settle faster and carry themselves better.
For too long, United’s midfield has looked either overburdened or underpowered. The latest report lays out the issue with refreshing bluntness: “Very much so. Following the departure of Casemiro as a free agent and Manuel Ugarte’s serious knee injury, Kobbie Mainoo would have been their only senior, recognised and available central midfielder heading into the new campaign.” That is not squad imbalance, that is a warning siren.

Manchester United fans would be forgiven for wondering where Kobbie Mainoo was when the club released a batch of images from the first day of pre-season training last week. After all, he has not played a minute at the World Cup, so where could he be?
The answer, unfortunately, is that he has spent the last six weeks warming England’s substitute bench. This, for a player of Mainoo’s calibre, is simply unacceptable and yet another blow in what has been a tricky season for the academy graduate.
While hopes are high that football might finally be coming home, Mainoo has likely given up all hope of playing a single minute in this summer’s tournament and will probably be counting the days until he can return to United and Michael Carrick, a manager who truly respects him.
Since Carrick took charge at the Red Devils in January, Mainoo has reminded everybody of the immense skills he possesses. These are skills that were, for some unknown reason, completely ignored by former United manager Ruben Amorim.
Despite having played barely any football in the first half of the season, the England international excelled after returning to the game and played a pivotal role in United qualifying for the Champions League. His incredible performances, which peaked in a goalscoring display against local rivals Liverpool, rightly attracted the attention of England manager Thomas Tuchel, who opted to include him in his World Cup squad.

Manchester United have always regarded the academy as the lifeblood of the club.
From the rampaging Busby Babes of the 1950s to the Class of 92, United's success has always been interlinked with their youth products.
In the current squad, academy graduate and Youth Cup winner Kobbie Mainoo has arguably established himself as United's most important midfielder.
The Red Devils also gave debuts to numerous Carrington products last season, including Jack and Tyler Fletcher, Shea Lacey, and Bendito Mantato.
With former player Michael Carrick named permanent manager, he is surely likely to give more first-team debuts next season as the world awaits the highly talented 15-year-old, JJ Gabriel, to get his chance in front of an expectant Old Trafford.

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has detailed how England boss Thomas Tuchel could make Kobbie Mainoo’s situation even worse.
Mainoo’s wait for a taste of the action at the 2026 World Cup continues, following Tuchel’s bizarre decision to overlook him yet again against DR Congo.
The United star remains the only midfielder in the squad who has yet to feature for the Three Lions.
England edged past DR Congo earlier this week to book their last-16 spot. Harry Kane’s sensational second-half display proved decisive, rescuing his side from what could have been an embarrassing slip-up.
Brian Cipenga handed DR Congo the lead, but two clinical finishes from Kane turned the tide and set up a mouthwatering last-16 clash with Mexico at the Estadio Azteca.

Axel Tuanzebe has urged more English-raised footballers to represent their countries of origin to raise the level of African football.
Tuanzebe was part of the DR Congo side eliminated byEngland in the 2026 World Cup last 32 on Wednesday evening. The 28-year-old was born in DR Congo but relocated to England at a young age.
The centre-back represented England at youth level, before pledging his international allegiance to his birth country in 2024. This summer, he has formed part of a DR Congo side that has reached theWorld Cup knockout rounds for the first time.
He urged other English-raised footballers to consider representing African nations at international level.
England internationals Marc Guehi (Ivory Coast) and Trevoh Chalobah (Sierre Leone) with were both born in Africa, while teammates Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Ezri Konsa and Kobbie Mainoo were all eligible to represent African nations alongside the Three Lions.

Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has yet to feature for England at the 2026 World Cup with Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson emerging as Thomas Tuchel's preferred starters in central midfield.
When Rice was injured for the final group game against Panama, Tuchel made a tactical change to start Morgan Rogers and then Jordan Henderson was preferred to come on from the bench.
While former United striker Wayne Rooney has called for the England boss to play Mainoo ahead of Anderson when England face DR Congo in the last 32, BBC Radio Manchester's The Devils' Advocate podcast host Gaz Drinkwater and guest Jay Motty have branded the lack of minutes "insulting".
Gaz said: "The biggest insult of all, for me Jordan Henderson coming on ahead of Kobbie Mainoo is ridiculous."
Jay added: "I'll go even further, I think the biggest insult of all is that Kobbie Mainoo's not starting for England.

Darts sensation Luke Littler has questioned Thomas Tuchel’s bizarre handling of Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo at the World Cup, calling on the player to be afforded minutes.
Mainoo enjoyed a superb latter half of the 2025/26 season, sparked by Ruben Amorim’s dismissal and the appointment of Michael Carrick as his replacement.
One of Carrick’s first major decisions was to restore Mainoo to the team after he was constantly overlooked by Amorim. It’s a decision that paid dividends. Mainoo was crucial, helping United to finish in third place and secure Champions League football after a two-year absence.
His impressive performances earned him a spot in the England World Cup squad. But Mainoo has yet to get a taste of the action in the tournament despite the nation’s struggles in midfield.
The Three Lions have made steady progress at the World Cup, beating Croatia in their opening game before being held to a goalless draw by Ghana and then seeing off Panama to secure their place in the Round of 32.

Manchester United’s pursuit of midfield reinforcements has taken another complicated turn this week. The Red Devils are looking to upgrade their squad to address Casemiro’s departure and the unfortunate injury to Manuel Ugarte.
However, two of their priority targets have now slipped through their hands. United were heavily linked with Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson before the beginning of the summer, but recent reports suggest that he is on his way to Manchester City.
INEOS have already secured the services of Ederson from Atalanta, but are keen to add more Premier League-proven quality to their squad. The Red Devils had also identified Mateus Fernandes as the ideal partner for Kobbie Mainoo in the middle of the park.
However, a recent update from The Peoples Person suggests that the Portuguese midfielder is on his way to Tottenham Hotspur. The latest developments have thrown United’s plans up in the air, although they remain linked with several high-profile midfielders, including Real Madrid star Aurelien Tchouameni.
In many ways, Tchouameni is the ideal candidate to fill Casemiro’s boots at the Theatre of Dreams. The French midfielder understands the demands of playing for a top club and is a mainstay for both club and country.

England face DR Congo at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Wednesday evening in the World Cup last 32, aiming to reach the round of 16.
The Three Lions finished top of Group L and arrive in Atlanta with every incentive to deliver a confident knockout performance — particularly after a group stage that left supporters questioning whether the squad’s individual talent is being fully utilised. DR Congo, the tournament’s highest-ranked third-place qualifier, will not be a straightforward opponent.
The right-back situation dominates the pre-match conversation. Reece James missed the Panama match with a hamstring injury, and his tournament now looks over. Jarell Quansah, who had stepped in for James before rolling his ankle during the Panama game, is a doubt.
Tuchel suggested after the final whistle that the injury was “a matter of days” but Quansah is unlikely to be risked here at this stage of the tournament. Djed Spence, who replaced Quansah in New Jersey, is therefore expected to start at right back.
Declan Rice is a significant positive. The **** nal midfielder was rested for Panama to manage the calf injury he sustained in the Ghana draw, but he is expected to start on Wednesday. His return restores England’s most important midfield presence alongside Elliot Anderson, with Kobbie Mainoo remaining on the bench for now.

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has explained why Thomas Tuchel must start Kobbie Mainoo in midfield against Congo. England face the Leopards at the Atalanta Stadium on Wednesday 1 July in the 2026 World Cup Round of 32.
The Three Lions progressed to the knockout stages by finishing at the top of Group L, courtesy of a run of two wins and one draw in the group stage. However, one of the big talking points has been Tuchel's reluctance to use Mainoo , who is coming off a spectacular campaign with United.
The English midfielder enjoyed a new lease of life following the arrival of Michael Carrick at Old Trafford in January. Mainoo was an omnipresent figure under the English manager, finishing with one goal and three ****** ists in 30 appearances and helping the Red Devils secure third place in the Premier League.
Source: Transfermarkt .
Unfortunately, his efforts have not been enough to convince Tuchel, who has preferred ****** nal 's Declan Rice and Nottingham Forest 's Elliot Anderson as his midfield pairing. Rooney, however, believes it is imperative that the German manager includes Mainoo in the starting XI for the upcoming game.

Manchester United enjoyed tremendous success in last summer's transfer window, upgrading their attack and goalkeeping departments with admirable efficiency. However, INEOS have endured a slow start to the window this year, which has not been helped by the ongoing FIFA World Cup.
The Red Devils are looking to address the departure of Casemiro, who has left a gaping hole in the squad. The idea is to sign the perfect partner for Kobbie Mainoo and forge a midfield that can provide the backbone for a successful season.
Recent reports suggest that United have already secured the services of Atalanta's Ederson. However, further reinforcements are in order as INEOS look to stick to their Premier League-proven strategy. One player who remains linked to Old Trafford is Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes.
Guimaraes joined the Magpies from Lyon in January 2022 and has since become an integral part of Newcastle's starting XI. Blessed with the eye of a playmaker yet accomplished in screening the backline, the Brazilian's skill set makes him a fantastic option to replace Casemiro at the Theatre of Dreams.
Previous reports have suggested that the veteran midfielder has already advised United to sign Guimaraes as his replacement. Last season, the 28 year old scored nine goals and registered eight ****** ists in 41 appearances across all competitions for the Magpies, all but four of which were starts.

Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
Sami Mokbel reports for the BBC that England will ****** s Declan Rice’s fitness before their next game against Panama, after the midfielder limped away from their last match against Ghana with heavy strapping on his left calf.
But Mokbel adds that sources have indicated there is no major concern that the problem will affect Rice’s long-term involvement at the tournament, it just requires ****** sment and rest before a decision on the Panama game can be made.
Mike Keegan and Craig Hope confirm for the Daily Mail that Rice’s problem is not thought to be serious, but add that no chances will be taken in the Panama game. Kobbie Mainoo is on standby to start if Rice is unable to.
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images

Manchester United’s summer has started with a sense of movement, and for once, a touch of clarity. As reported by The Athletic, United have reached an initial €40.5m agreement with Atalanta for Ederson, with a further €4.5m in potential add-ons.
That is not a small bet. It is a statement about where this squad has been weakest, and where Michael Carrick clearly believes the next version of United must begin. Midfield has too often looked like a room with missing furniture, functional on some days, exposed on others, and never quite complete.
Ederson, 26, is expected to complete the move in July, potentially after Brazil’s World Cup involvement. His late call-up to Carlo Ancelotti’s squad only adds intrigue to the deal. United are buying a player with athleticism, aggression and positional flexibility, yet also one whose best version must now become his weekly version.
The Athletic’s wider reporting makes clear that Ederson will not be the final answer. United still need more in midfield with Casemiro leaving, Ugarte having not worked out and turnover in recent years.
Kobbie Mainoo is the only recognised central midfielder whose place feels secure. That is both exciting and slightly alarming. He is a superb talent, mature beyond his years, but he cannot be asked to carry the structure of an entire midfield rebuild.