Declan Rice expresses admiration for Kobbie Mainoo after an impressive debut for England against Brazil, highlighting the young midfielder’s talents. Mainoo, who plays for Manchester United, made his first appearance for the Three Lions as a substitute during the last 15 minutes of the match at Wembley.

 

Despite his limited playing time, Mainoo showcased his composed and technically skilled style of play, seamlessly integrating with Rice in midfield, with Phil Foden operating as the number 10 ahead of them. In an Instagram post following his England debut, Mainoo expressed his joy, stating, “Special feeling making my senior @England debut at Wembley and in front of my family. Something I’ll never forget. Now we get back on track for Tuesday,” accompanied by a heart emoji.

 

Rice, among others, commented on the post, congratulating Mainoo and expressing confidence in his future success. Bruno Fernandes added, “First of many,” while Luke Shaw praised him as “What a player,” and Harry Maguire acknowledged his deserving performance. Mainoo also received praise from Cole Palmer, James Maddison, Teden Mengi, and Alejandro Garnacho.

 

England manager Gareth Southgate explained his decision to include Mainoo in the senior team, citing the need to refresh the lineup due to injuries. Southgate highlighted Mainoo’s calm and skillful moments on the field, indicating his potential for future growth.

 

Since his Premier League debut against Everton in November, Mainoo has become an integral part of the Manchester United squad, featuring in 15 of their last 16 games and scoring his first goal in the league against Wolves.

 

Ajax manager Erik ten Hag also spoke highly of Mainoo’s progress, noting his rapid development and improvement with each game. Ten Hag praised Mainoo’s composure and expressed his belief that the young player possesses the drive and potential to continue advancing in his career.