Cast your mind back to that Lionel Messi goal against Real Madrid in the 2011 Champions League, the Barcelona talisman breaking the Clasico deadlock as he set off from inside the centre circle, weaved past countless defenders and slotted into the far corner.
It was 99 per cent Messi’s own work, but Sergio Busquets claimed an assist for a simple pass in the middle of the park. The footballing equivalent of handing Gordon Ramsey a wooden spoon and watching him produce a Michelin star meal in front of your eyes.
The assist Kobbie Mainoo ‘produced’ for Bruno Fernandes during Manchester United‘s 4-2 midweek win over Sheffield United felt a little similar. Mainoo, picking up possession wide on the right, rolled the ball into his captain’s path, Fernandes spinning and then launching a 25-yard rocket past Wes Foderingham and into the Blades net.
Bruno Fernandes hails Kobbie Mainoo in Manchester United win
“Great assist,” Fernandes wrote on Instagram at full-time, very much tongue-in-cheek.
His next comment, however, was a lot more sincere.
“Different class you, kid.”
As Fernandes continued his remarkable recent form – a staggering nine goals or assists now in his last five games – this was another display full of poise and purpose from Manchester United’s breakout star. On a night in which United’s fabled youth academy was honoured by a first-team debut for Ethan Wheatley – the 250th Carrington graduate to make a senior bow for the club – it’s fitting that Mainoo added another stand-out display to his ever-growing collection.
With Christian Eriksen sitting a little deeper in an attempt to dominate possession, Mainoo was afforded the opportunity to push on and go in search of a fourth Man United goal. One would not arrive, of course. But this was another reminder that, whether as a number six or an advanced number eight, Mainoo possesses a consistency far more experienced players would kill for.
Another stand-out performance from Carrington kid
“He’s not only the future in my opinion, but he’s the present already”, ex-Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas – one of the finest midfeilders of his own generation – told BBC’s Planet Football podcast of Mainoo recently. “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.
“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.”