Paul Scholes Compares Man Utd’s Kobbie Mainoo to Zinedine Zidane
In Summary:
- Manchester United legend Paul Scholes praises young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, comparing his playing style to that of Zinedine Zidane.
- Mainoo, at 19, has impressed in Manchester United’s first team and with England’s national team.
Manchester United icon Paul Scholes has lauded the talents of young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, drawing a striking comparison to French football legend Zinedine Zidane.
In a recent interview with The Guardian, Scholes expressed his admiration for the 19-year-old’s abilities on the field.
Mainoo, who broke into Erik ten Hag’s first team last season, has quickly made a name for himself.
His performances have been noteworthy, including a goal in Manchester United’s 2-1 victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
The young talent also played a crucial role in England’s journey to the Euro 2024 final, where they narrowly lost to Spain.
Scholes highlighted Mainoo’s exceptional ball control and composure, stating, “He’s the nearest thing I’ve seen to [Zinedine] Zidane in taking a ball, receiving the ball, cruising past people.”
The United legend was particularly impressed by Mainoo’s calmness and confidence in possession, qualities he found remarkable in such a young player.
The former midfielder also revealed that Mainoo’s prowess was evident even in training, where he reportedly held his own against, and sometimes outperformed, the experienced Casemiro.
Scholes emphasized the importance of translating training ground performance to match situations, which Mainoo seems to have accomplished successfully.