Nicky Butt pours praise over Man Utd’s ‘big-game player’ after urging him to leave earlier in the season

Nicky Butt is as delighted as every other Manchester United fan to see Kobbie Mainoo back thriving at the heart of the midfield.Last night, the starlet started his fifth successive game for the Reds’ trip to face West Ham United, meaning he has now started in every match since Michael Carrick took the reins in January.How Mainoo fared vs West Ham(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)While he was at the scene of the crime for the Irons’ opener, Mainoo oversaw yet another tremendous display alongside Casemiro – and should’ve had another goal contribution to round off his stellar showing.When United were trailing by a goal, the youngster delivered an inch-perfect cross into the area, which was met and headed in by Casemiro to bring the scoreline level – until VAR intervened and chalked it off for a hugely controversial offside call. Fine margins 📐 Casemiro thought he had Manchester United’s equaliser but he was just offside…@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/vBCPI85Hgc — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 10, 2026Thankfully, a point was claimed in the very dying embers of the clash via Benjamin Sesko, who ensured United stayed unbeaten under Carrick.Ahead of kick-off, Butt poured praise on Mainoo when previewing the contest with TNT Sports. He said: “I love him, I always have done. He’s a big-game player as well.“He’s come through the academy. Obviously, he’s next to a senior player in Casemiro, who’s been there and seen everything.“I like how he wants to play forward. He’s not afraid. He’s old-school Man United – ‘How can I give it to my attacking players quickly?’”Fellow pundit Karen Carney added: “His work rate is phenomenal. He’s one of the players who has run the most in the last few games. It’s brilliant to see him back.”Why Butt is so pleased to see Mainoo back in the fold(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)Earlier in the season, Butt – along with Paul Scholes – had actually urged Mainoo to leave Old Trafford and explore a new venture due to his heavily reduced role before Ruben Amorim’s dismissal.At the time Amorim was relieved of his duties, the 20-year-old had not made a single Premier League start and had been an unused substitute on four occasions.“He’s a top, top, top player that we are f****** up. Kobbie has got to go,” said Butt back in December. “If I’m looking after him, I’m telling him, ‘we’re getting you out of that football club’.“For his football career, he has to leave United; he’s lost 18 months of development. I hope he goes abroad because it’s embarrassing if he goes to Chelsea, which could happen.”They might go and get him because they are putting together a very good, young squad and keep buying young players. He could quite easily end up at Chelsea next season.“I’ve known Kobbie since he was eight, but you wouldn’t be doing him justice if you told him to stay and not to take that move. That’s such a sad thing for me to say.”