sport news Inside story of Kobbie Mainoo's stratospheric rise to the England squad - as ... trends now
Kobbie Mainoo was preparing for a trip to Baku on Tuesday when he was told to stay put in Burton-on-Trent.
Instead of playing for England Under 21s in a Euro 2025 qualifier in far-flung Azerbaijan, Manchester United’s rising star has been promoted to train with the seniors at St George’s Park and is looking forward to a potential full international debut against Brazil at Wembley on Saturday.
So Mainoo has been fast-tracked through another stage of his development as a footballer. It’s something the affable young man from Stockport, who doesn’t turn 19 until next month, has grown quite accustomed to by now.
His short career is the story of a gifted boy who has cleared every obstacle put in front of him by some distance. He has transitioned seamlessly into United’s first team during a breakthrough season to the point that he is now an automatic choice under Erik ten Hag. England — or Brazil for that matter — should be no sweat for him, either.
What separates Mainoo from so many players of the same age is his personality: utterly unflappable on and off the pitch, and humble, too.
Kobbie Mainoo has been fast-tracked through another stage of his development as a footballer and has been called up to the England senior squad
Instead of playing for England Under 21s in a Euro 2025 qualifier in far-flung Azerbaijan this week, Man United's rising star could claim his first England cap
The 18-year-old has transitioned seamlessly into United’s first-team during a breakthrough season at Old Trafford and is now an automatic choice under Erik ten Hag
He may have upgraded to a club issue Mercedes A-Class and BMW 4x4 this season, but he still parks at the front of United’s training ground instead of round the back where the first-team stars leave their fleet of sports cars.
Then Mainoo walks the long way through the building to the senior dressing room having only acquired a locker there in January, despite making his debut in the Carabao Cup against Charlton a year earlier.
When a lot of the players leave Carrington after training, Mainoo will have lunch almost every day with his close friend and team-mate Alejandro Garnacho, having both risen from the Under 18s.
The fact that his favourite dish is rice and peas and his favourite drink is water is another indication that he’s unlikely to fall for the champagne lifestyle anytime soon. A special treat is Nando’s.
Those close to the player would say he is the product of a loving and stable upbringing in Cheadle Hulme, south of Manchester, the son of Ghanaian immigrants — even though his father Felix and mother Abina separated after he was born in Stockport in 2005.
Kobbie (his dad pulls up anyone who pronounces it Kobe, as in Bryant) grew up living at both houses and still does, though he’s expected to get his own place soon. He has two sisters, Ama and Efia, and a half-brother, Jordan Mainoo-Hames, the former Love Island contestant who is Felix’s son by another partner.
When United first spotted Mainoo playing for Cheadle & Gatley and brought him to their development centre at Moss Side as an Under 6, his parents took it in turns to drop him off.
Many close to Mainoo would say he is the product of a loving and stable upbringing in Cheadle Hulme
Mainoo was pictured signing a contract extension at United alongside his family last year
Erik ten Hag (left) and Mainoo were seen celebrating Man United's epic FA Cup victory against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon at Old Trafford
‘If they were both there, they wouldn’t speak to each other which was a bit sad, but there was no animosity at all,’ said one of the coaches, speaking to Mail Sport on condition of anonymity.
He also has two sisters, Ama and Efia, and a half-brother, Jordan Mainoo-Hames (pictured) who was a former Love Island contestant
‘But whatever happened behind closed doors was kept there. They are lovely people. They were grateful for what Kobbie was getting, humble and not pushy like some parents. They just let it take its own course, happy he was enjoying himself and meeting new friends.
‘Kobbie wasn’t a shrinking violet but he wasn’t lairy, either. He would walk in, shake your hand and, bang, he was at it.
‘He was studious — like a sponge with a thirst for knowledge. “What can you show me now?” Then he’d try to do it and ask us to watch him.’
At Cheadle & Gatley, coach Steve Vare had to make up special rules to level the playing field between Mainoo and the other boys.
‘He could only score with his weaker foot or he had to pass it to a team-mate,’ recalls Vare. ‘I started to push him on to the other pitch and play him against the older boys.’
Mainoo was only at Moss Side for three months before he was fast-tracked to United’s Centre of Excellence at The Cliff aged six, having also left Cheadle & Gatley for Failsworth Dynamos.
By his own admission, a player who grew up idolising Ronaldinho was more interested in dribbling and tricks than the midfield skills that are now his stock in trade.
