sport news MAN UNITED CONFIDENTIAL: Kobbie Mainoo's meteoric rise to be rewarded, Avram ... trends now
Kobbie Mainoo's meteoric rise at Manchester United can be measured by the fact that he will sign a third contract in as many years with the club this summer.
United’s willingness to reward Mainoo with new terms after his breakthrough season means he will be following a similar path to two other academy stars, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood.
The England midfielder signed his first professional deal shortly after his 17th birthday in May 2022 and another in February 2023 in keeping with FIFA regulations which limit the length of contracts for players under the age of 18.
Such has been Mainoo’s progress under Erik ten Hag this season that another new contract will follow at the end of the season, although both sides are so relaxed over the situation that no talks have taken place yet.
Greenwood signed his first professional contract in October 2018 and his third less than three years later in February 2021, while Rashford’s first three contracts spanned five years between July 2014 and July 2019.
Mainoo has made 25 appearances for United and could hit a total of 32 by the end of the season. Not bad for a young man who began the campaign playing for the club’s Under-21s in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy at Salford.
Kobbie Mainoo's meteoric rise at Man United is set to be be rewarded with a third new contract
Mainoo will have a third deal in as many years with his latest contract signed in February 2023
It was almost midnight on Sunday when the Manchester United team bus reached the M6 toll road on the final leg of its journey back from Wembley, but the players were already at home in bed.
Such are the logistics of modern-day football, United flew back to Manchester from Luton Airport after their incredible 3-3 draw with Coventry City and penalty shootout win in the FA Cup semi-final, and landed at 10.30pm.
The bus was only used to ferry the players between the hotel, stadium and airport before returning to Manchester without any passengers late on Sunday night. It was conspicuous due to the heavy branding on the outside of the vehicle, which is always on display for games at Wembley.
With manager Eric ten Hag summoning his players in for training at 9am on Monday morning for recovery sessions ahead of Wednesday’s game against Sheffield United at Old Trafford, it was imperative to get the squad back to Manchester by air so they could sleep before returning to work.
Avram makes an awkward exitOne of the perks of Wembley from a media perspective is that all players and officials have to walk past assembled reporters on their way out to cars and buses.
While Marcus Rashford was in no mood to chat as he limped through, neither was majority owner Avram Glazer. Asked what the future holds for manager Erik ten Hag, Glazer was expressionless as he hot-footed to the exit.
No doubt he’ll have much more to say on the matter behind closed doors in the next few weeks.
Man United majority owner Avram Glazer was expressionless on Erik ten Hag's future
The way in which Coventry City fought back from three goals down to take a fragile United to the wire at Wembley suggested the Sky Blues had done their homework on Ten Hag’s team.
Copenhagen, Galatasaray, Wolves and Chelsea are examples of other occasions this season that United have inexplicably lost control of games they appeared to have in the bag, and Coventry staged the greatest comeback of all.
However, some officials from the Championship club clearly weren’t aware just how easily United can wobble. During the half-time interval at Wembley, with United 2-0 up and cruising, one staff member told Confidential: ‘We were never going to win this game anyway, so we can just enjoy it now as long as we don’t lose by four or five.’
After a 3-3 draw, extra-time, a 121st-minute Coventry goal ruled out by VAR and a penalty shootout that began with Casemiro aiming his effort straight at the keeper, Bernardo Silva style, said official was shaking his head along with the rest of us. United games are rarely dull but following Ten Hag’s side really should come with a health warning.
Haji goes down in his-toe-ryCoventry's winning goal in the 1987 FA Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur is so etched into club folklore that supporters named a fanzine after it.
Keith Houchen’s diving header inevitably gets the most airtime – even to this day, and especially before the semi-final against United on Sunday – but the decisive goal in Coventry’s 3-2 win actually came off a Tottenham player. Hence the fanzine title Gary Mabbutt’s Knee.
After a scarcely believable climax at Wembley on Sunday when Coventry substitute Victor Torp snatched what he thought was a sensational winner in added time of extra-time, only to see it ruled out for a the most marginal of offsides against the man who provided the assist, maybe a change of name is in order. Haji Wright’s Toe certainly has a ring to it.
Coventry's Victor Torp saw his last gasp extra time effort ruled out against Man United
Haji Wright was ruled to be offside by the narrowest of margins after a VAR review at Wembley
It was mentioned in this column last week that United are keeping a close eye on Brazilian starlet Gustavinho, in a nod to a shift in transfer strategy to bring the average age of the team down. Well, keep an eye also on young Norwegian Sverre Nypan.
Confidential understands that the 17-year-old central midfielder, who plays for Rosenborg, is well liked by United and is seen as a potential target as they overhaul the side.
Norway has a great track record of player development with Erling Haaland and Oscar Bobb thriving at Man City, and Martin Odegaard excelling at Arsenal.
Midfield is a particular area of long-term concern for United with Casemiro and Christian Eriksen both approaching the end of their time at Old Trafford, and question marks as to whether Scott McTominay will remain given his potential sale value after a strong season.
Man United are continuing to keep track of 17-year-old Rosenborg midfielder Sverre Nypan
United are coming under increasing pressure to change a controversial ticketing rule which has sparked anger among fans.
Season ticket holders must attend 17 of the 19 home games in the 2024-25 campaign or risk losing their seat at Old Trafford. The number was 14 for this season, although forwarding to an official member, donating the cost of the ticket to the Manchester United Foundation or using the club’s buy-back scheme counts towards that figure.
It was one of the main topics discussed during the latest meeting of the Fans’ Forum on Thursday, attended by senior executives as well as supporter representatives. Confidential understands club officials at the meeting were open to reducing the minimum attendance requirement from 17 but it remains to be seen whether they do so ahead of the new season.
Before the meeting, The 1958 – the fans group behind the recent spate of anti-Glazer protests - urged the forum to get the rule scrapped and claimed the club were trying to ‘cull season ticket holders’.
‘At a time match-goers across PL clubs are being treated with disdain,’ they said, ‘our [Fans’ Forum] reps need to set an example.’
Man United are coming under pressure to replace a controversial ticketing rule from fans
United are rolling out a fresh set of changes to their
