How issues can change. It was solely a matter of months in the past that Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo was the cream of the crop, with the teenage sensation capping off a high quality debut marketing campaign in senior soccer by enjoying his half in England’s surge to the Euro 2024 ultimate.
Belatedly introduced into the United staff by Erik ten Hag for his first Premier League begin in opposition to Everton in November 2023, following an damage in pre-season, the native lad’s Man of the Match show at Goodison Park set the tone for a blinding finish to 2023/24 on a person foundation.
A notable excessive level for the academy graduate got here away to Wolverhampton Wanderers in February, with Mainoo sealing all three factors in dramatic circumstances, jinking his means by the house defence earlier than curling into the nook in beautiful vogue. A star was born.
And but, the midfielder’s return to Molineux on Boxing Day epitomised that the journey for any younger participant isn’t linear, nor clean, with the 19-year-old’s shoddy exhibiting coming amid what has been a disappointing 2024/25 marketing campaign to date.
Mainoo’s efficiency vs Wolves
On what was simply his fiftieth first-team look for United, Mainoo – who has endured a stop-start season as a consequence of damage – ‘appeared a shadow of the participant‘ who sparkled final time period, as per Samuel Luckhurst, having struggled within the centre of the park.
Now deployed in a midfield two alongside summer time signing Manuel Ugarte, the Stockport native appeared considerably off the tempo, having gained simply two of his eight duels, whereas failing to finish a single dribble and shedding the ball on 11 events.
There have been some indicators of life – together with a teasing cross that Rasmus Hojlund got here agonisingly near getting on the tip of – but, in reality, it was no actual shock when Mainoo’s quantity went as much as be withdrawn on the hour mark.
The sight of the rising star clipping the ball into contact on a handful of events actually was a sign of his dwindling confidence, with Ruben Amorim needing to discover a strategy to revive what’s undoubtedly a “generational expertise” – as hailed by the aforementioned Hojlund.
Maybe, the addition of a brand new midfielder in 2025 may very well be what is required to get Mainoo firing as soon as once more…
Man Utd’s seek for a midfielder
In accordance with The Athletic’s Mark Critchley – alongside David Ornstein – the Crimson Devils are believed to be monitoring Atalanta star, Ederson, at current, amid the Brazilian’s ‘spectacular shows in Serie A’.

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This follows earlier claims from Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, who advised that the 25-year-old is among the many targets that United are “significantly contemplating”, having “scouted him a number of occasions”.
Whereas The Athletic doesn’t reveal any potential price ticket for the midfield destroyer, Plettenberg claimed final week that the Serie A facet may demand a payment of as much as €60m (£50m).
Why Ederson’s arrival may very well be good for Mainoo
The Atalanta man will not be probably the most high-profile of names, but he has been incomes rave evaluations for his type in Italy in latest seasons, with former England boss Fabio Capello amongst these main the plaudits:
“He’s out of this world for his skill to mix operating, physicality, approach and intelligence”.
A part of the facet that claimed Europa League glory final season following a 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen, the in-demand expertise – who put in a “monsterclass” in that showpiece win, within the phrases of Statman Dave – may very well be the right accomplice for Mainoo within the centre of the park.
The 6 foot machine has chipped in with two targets and one help in 17 Serie A in 2024/25, though his key power lies in profitable again possession, proven by the truth that he averages 2.3 tackles and interceptions per sport, having recovered 5.5 balls per sport additionally.
That helps claims from his membership colleague Marten de Roon, who mentioned that it’s his “pace and restoration skill that nobody else has“. He is merely a real workhorse.
What additionally units him other than the aforementioned Ugarte, as an example, is his skill to interrupt the strains and affect proceedings in an attacking sense, showcased by the truth that he averages 6.43 progressive passes per 90 throughout the final twelve months. The Uruguayan, in contrast, averages simply 3.42 in that regard.
Ederson’s Serie A season in numbers |
---|
17 video games (16 begins) |
2 targets |
1 help |
3 huge possibilities created |
0.9 key passes* |
87% go accuracy* |
1.2 interceptions* |
1.1 tackles* |
5.5 balls recovered* |
54% complete duels gained* |
63% aerial duels gained* |
Stats by way of Sofascore (*per sport) |
That ensures that he may very well be the person to select a marauding Mainoo in superior areas, with Ederson additionally offering the advantage of having operated in a 3-4-3 system in Bergamo underneath Gian Piero Gasperini.
The identical may very well be mentioned of Ugarte, but that pairing with Mainoo merely is not working at current, therefore the necessity to purchase a contemporary face – ideally within the New 12 months.
Equally, there’s additionally a world by which Ederson may accomplice Ugarte, thus liberating up Mainoo to tackle one of many two quantity ten berths behind the striker, with the presence of two such athletic midfielders behind him permitting the undoubtedly gifted diamond to shine as soon as once more.

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