“A player I really like”: Casemiro hails United dynamo as “the present and the future” of the club

Outgoing Manchester United midfielder Casemiro believes Kobbie Mainoo is destined for great things at Old Trafford. The Brazilian midfielder is in the final couple of months of his contract and has already announced that he will leave at the end of this season. Casemiro has been a constant in the middle of the park for the Red Devils this season, and he has started every game under caretaker manager Michael Carrick. The 34 year old has registered seven goals and two assists in 30 appearances across competitions this campaign, 28 of which have been starts. The Brazilian started the season as part of a two-man midfield pivot alongside Bruno Fernandes in former head coach Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 system. After the former Sporting manager was replaced by Carrick in January, United reverted to a 4-2-3-1 system, with Fernandes operating in his preferred No. 10 position. Meanwhile, Mainoo was positioned alongside Casemiro in midfield, and the two have started every game together since. Mainoo’s turbulent 2025/26 campaign Mainoo’s future was subject to speculation last summer, with United undergoing several changes under Amorim. The Englishman broke into the senior side under former manager Erik ten Hag in 2023 before becoming a first team regular. However, Mainoo was in and out of the starting XI after the Portuguese head coach replaced the Dutch manager in November 2024. It was believed that the 20 year old wanted to leave the Red Devils on loan last summer in search of regular football, but a move never materialised. Unfortunately, Mainoo was a peripheral figure under Amorim, and managed just one start – in the disastrous EFL Cup defeat to Grimsby Town – in the first half of the season. Mainoo was subsequently linked with an exit ahead of January, but things changed following Carrick’s arrival, who immediately reinstated the youngster into the starting XI. Mainoo has been exceptional so far and even earned a call-up to the national team as a result. Kobbie Mainoo Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Premier League2210-2–1,114′ FA Cup11–1-62′ EFL Cup11-1–90′ Total2412-31-1,266′ Source: Transfermarkt. Mainoo has forged an admirable partnership with Casemiro in recent months, and the veteran midfielder has now provided an insight into his young teammate. Destined for greatness Speaking to the club’s media in response to questions sent by fans, Casemiro hailed Kobbie as the present and the future. He said: “Kobbie is the present and the future. I think that he is one of the best no.8s and can be for that for the next 12 years.” “He is a player I really like. He always wants the ball. It is true that football can’t change your mentality but Kobbie demonstrated that he hasn’t changed his focus once. He has to continue focusing like he is now and continue playing the important role he is now.” “But what a player he is, he is a great player. He has demonstrated this, in the Euros final with England, he has demonstrated it in finals, he scored in the FA Cup [in the 2024 final win over Manchester City]. Kobbie is the present and the future.” Mainoo’s contract expires in 2027, but recent reports suggest that he is close to extending his stay at the Theatre of Dreams. Final Thoughts Mainoo’s emergence at United is in line with the club’s rich history of promoting and trusting youth, so it is surprising that Amorim could not include him in his plans. Nevertheless, it is refreshing to see that the Red Devils are close to extending his stay at Old Trafford, because the English midfielder has all the ingredients to become an Old Trafford legend. Featured image Stu Forster via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.