“It would be great for football”: Cesc Fabregas says he hopes fearless Kobbie Mainoo can go all the way | OneFootball

Former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas has heaped praise on Manchester United wonderkid Kobbie Mainoo and expressed hope that he can live up to his incredible potential.

During a tumultuous and disappointing season for United, Mainoo has been a beacon of hope for the fans.

The 18-year-old has impressed with his remarkably calm and composed performances in the middle of the park and in a short space of time, has cemented his starter status in Erik ten Hag’s team.

Just last month, Mainoo also made his England debut and unsurprisingly, took to international football like a duck to water.

Speaking on the Planet Football podcast, Febregas heaped praise on the Carrington academy graduate and said he has the skill set to reach the very top.

Fabregas undoubtedly knows a thing or two about being a talented but very young central midfielder playing week in and week out for a big club in the Premier League.

The Spaniard made his debut in England’s top flight at just 16 after Arsenal secured his services from Barcelona’s youth academy La Masia in 2003. Fabregas would go on to establish himself as a key member of the Arsenal squad before eventually returning to Barcelona in 2011.

The 36-year-old said about Mainoo, “He’s not only the future in my opinion, but he’s the present already. He can make a real difference. He’s got a fantastic personality [it’s] like he’s been playing for a long time.”

“To help him in the summer, they need to recruit players who can gain this quality on the pitch to make him more brilliant than what he is.”

“With these talented players, the better quality they get around him, the better they get. So I am expecting a big summer transfer window for Manchester United… but next season he needs to be a key player no matter what.”

Fabregas added, “I always talk about [the important thing being] how much you want the ball in difficult moments because when you are winning 6-0 or 5-0 it is very easy to throw in a young player and he will get on the ball and want to prove himself.”

“But in the Premier League, to perform the way he is doing, in a season where it’s very, very difficult for every United player, and some of the best players are struggling, shows a lot. He plays without fear, and this is what I love about him.”

“He just wants the ball, wants to make things happen. I always talk about the attitude and the personality; this is what makes a really, really good player in the difficult moments and he’s showing that. Hopefully, he can go all the way, because it would be great for football.”

It’s certainly high praise for Mainoo from one of the most talented midfielders to play in the Premier League.

Up next for United is an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley against Championship outfit Coventry City.

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