- Man United wonderkid Kobbie Mainoo has been compared to Paul Scholes
- An ex-United star has heaped praise on the teenager after recent performances
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Manchester United wonderkid Kobbie Mainoo has been compared to club legend Paul Scholes by another former Red Devil.
The Red Devils youngster continued his meteoric rise after scoring a stunning late winner during a 4-3 win over Wolves, setting up a tidy finish after a sensational solo run.
The 18-year-old made his ninth Premier League appearance since breaking into the Red Devils’ first-team with a goal, as he once again showcased his immense talent.
Now, given his impressive form, ex-Red Devil Dimitar Berbatov has compared the youngster to club legend Scholes.
The Bulgarian told me Honestly: ‘The goal he scored against Wolves was great because it shows he is mature beyond his years.
Man United wonderkid Kobbie Mainoo has become a star for the Red Devils in the 2023-2024 season
Now a former Red Devil has compared the youngster to club legend Paul Scholes
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‘He had the courage to try something different in the last minute of the match and it was a special moment.
‘Mainoo is a special player, but like any 18-year-old we just have to let them play, because at the moment Kobbie is just enjoying football in its purest form and that is what I like to see.
‘You have to go back to players like Paul Scholes, Giggsy, Gary Neville and then that crop of players breaking through to see how young players seem so mature.
“Now with Kobbie you can see he plays the game with so much confidence. He is composed and knows how to play the game. Of course we all hope he gets better because he is still so young. Players like him are special individuals.
‘You see them playing at a young age and they clearly have the talent. All Kobbie needs to do now is continue to develop and work on the weaknesses of his game, which will benefit the team.”
Although Mainoo may have only played a handful of games for the Red Devils, he has quickly proven himself as one of Erik ten Hag’s most useful players.
Recent statistics show that, compared to other Under 21 players with at least 500 minutes played in the Premier League, the England youngster ranks fifth in terms of successful passes.
Ex-United star Berbatov (R) said Mainoo, like Scholes, is ‘so young’ yet ‘so mature’
Mainoo scored a stunning late winner for Man United on their recent trip to Wolves
Mainoo currently averages 36.29 successful passes per 90, with only Chelsea duo Malo Gusto and Levi Colwill and Brighton stars Carlos Baleba and Jack Hinshelwood producing more.
Within this statistic, we can also see that the youngster boasts the third-best passing accuracy, as he has completed 85.62 percent of his pass attempts. Again, only Baleba and Gusto do better.
In terms of his range, the United star averages the highest number of through balls among his colleagues.
With his 0.29 through balls per match, the 18-year-old surpasses the likes of Chelsea’s Colwill and Newcastle’s Lewis Miley to claim top spot.