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Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has been full of praise for Kobi Mainu, even likening the youngster to football icon Zinedine Zidane.
Mainu had a superb 2023/24 season despite United’s struggles, and he was one of the few positives in an extremely turbulent and frustrating tenure.
In a flash, Mainu cemented his place in Erik Ten Hag’s starting XI, and his superb breakthrough campaign culminated in a sensational display at Wembley against Manchester City in the FA Cup final. He was also a key player as England reached the Euro 2024 final, but were narrowly eliminated by Spain.
Mainu has often been compared to Dutch great Clarence Seedorf, but according to Scholes, the 19-year-old plays more like Zidane.
“He’s the most similar player to (Zinedine) Zidane I’ve ever seen – he gets the ball, he runs past people,” Scholes told the Guardian.
“I heard there was a youngster who held his own against Casemiro in training, and sometimes even better. But you have to go out there and do it.”
“I remember the first time I saw him, his composure. The way he received the ball with confidence; I couldn’t believe that a young player could do that.”
“No one found peace as quickly as Kobe.”
Scholes added: “I would say it happened five or six years into my career. So it’s amazing. He’s so relaxed, the game is so easy for him. It’s like poetry in motion. That calmness will be important throughout his career. It’s something (that’s just inside you).”
“If this guy puts his head down, the sky’s the limit. And I think he’ll keep his balance.”
Scholes certainly knows what it takes to be a world-class midfielder and the praise will be a huge boost for Mainu ahead of the new season.
United begin their Premier League season with a home game against Fulham on Friday.
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