Wayne Rooney, the former English player and pundit, has highlighted a young player who is outperforming Yamine Lamal, Jude Bellingham, and Nico Williams during Euro 2024.
The former Manchester United striker is particularly impressed by the work of 19-year-old English international Kobbie Mainoo, who plays as a central midfielder.
Rooney explains that the young Man Utd player takes on a more delicate role in Euro 2024 compared to the other mentioned players.
“Williams, Yamal, Bellingham, Foden, they all play in attacking positions whereas Mainoo, at 19, excels in a position that demands immense discipline and understanding of the game,” explained the former Derby County coach.
He further adds, “Over the coming years, Mainoo will become one of the best players in the world. His maturity is impressive.” Discovered this year at Man Utd by Eric Ten Hag, Kobbie Mainoo impresses with his game intelligence and discipline at his age in the central midfield role.
Moreover, the young Englishman demonstrates maturity by confidently carrying the ball from deep within his own half towards the opponent’s box, showcasing his abilities under pressure.
Despite being only 19 years old, Kobbie Mainoo is emerging as one of the standout box-to-box midfielders of the tournament, having only started from the round of sixteen onwards.
This style of play typically requires significant experience, as highlighted by another former Three Lions legend, Steven Gerrard.
“Let’s talk about the great names in midfield history. Vieira, Casemiro, Zidane, Modric. This kid, at 19, is doing what these greats did at their peak. It’s incredible,” declared the former Liverpool captain.
Leave a Reply