“He’s the nearest thing I’ve seen to him in taking a ball, receiving the ball, cruising past people.” Paul Scholes has just paid Kobbie Mainoo the ultimate compliment with this comparison… 🤯.

Paul Scholes has heaped praise on Kobbie Mainoo, drawing comparisons between the young talent and one of football’s all-time greats.

Mainoo’s 2023/24 campaign got off to a rough start after he suffered an injury during Manchester United’s pre-season tour in the United States. Despite this setback, the 19-year-old made a strong comeback in November and quickly established himself as one of United’s standout players.

His stellar performances included scoring the decisive goal in the FA Cup final against Manchester City. These impressive displays earned him a spot in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024.

During the tournament in Germany, Mainoo was in the starting lineup for the final against Spain, though the match ended in disappointment for England as they were defeated 2-1.

Looking ahead to the new season, Mainoo is expected to play a crucial role, and Manchester United legend Scholes has praised the youngster, even likening him to French football icon Zinedine Zidane.

Scholes, who once regarded Zidane as the toughest opponent he faced, expressed his admiration for Mainoo’s abilities. According to The Guardian, Scholes remarked, “He’s the closest I’ve seen to [Zinedine] Zidane in terms of taking the ball, receiving the ball, gliding past people.

“I heard there was a young lad who was not just holding his own against Casemiro in training but sometimes even outperforming him.”

Scholes went on to say, “But you have to prove it on the pitch. When I first saw him, what struck me was his calmness. The way he handled the ball with such confidence was incredible for someone so young.