Kobbie Mainoo disagreement as Rio Ferdinand shuts down 'wild' Paul Scholes claim

Kobbie Mainoo disagreement as Rio Ferdinand shuts down 'wild' Paul Scholes claim

Kobbie Mainoo got his first minutes for Manchester United this season in a damning penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town on Wednesday evening

Kobbie Mainoo is struggling to get a start in the Manchester United team right now (Image: George Wood/Getty Images)

Rio Ferdinand argued that Kobbie Mainoo needs to do more behind the scenes to guarantee a start at Manchester United while shutting down Paul Scholes' "wild" comparison to Zinedine Zidane.

‌

Mainoo was included in the starting XI for the first time this season on Wednesday night in United's Carabao Cup second round defeat at League Two Grimsby Town. The fourth-tier side were 2-0 up before the break, and it took a late Harry Maguire leveller to take the game to penalties.

‌

Grimsby completed the upset when Bryan Mbeumo saw his second penalty hit the bar, and the Red Devils crashed out 12-11 on spot kicks. Mainoo played the entire 90 minutes and assisted Mbeumo for United's first goal of the night - but the loss may not have convinced Ruben Amorim to keep the 20-year-old in his future plans.

‌

During a recording of Ferdinand's podcast earlier this week, co-host Joel Beya brought up the words of fellow United icon Scholes, who stated Mainoo was far superior to himself at such a young age, as he questioned why the England international couldn't get a start in Amorim's team.

Beya said: "Kobbie Mainoo has been a ghost man throughout this period. We've got the likes of Paul Scholes saying, 'He's the nearest thing I've seen to Zidane in taking the ball, receiving the ball, cruising past people. I've read a few comparisons between me and him and this kid. Don't waste your time. He is 10 times the player I was at 19.'

"If I'm Kobbie Mainoo bro, and you're not playing me and obviously the fans are still cheering for Amorim to stay, I could be looking for another club at the end of the season?"

‌

Ferdinand hit pause on comparisons of Mainoo to Zidane (Image: YouTube/Rio Ferdinand Presents)

However, Ferdinand wasn't entirely convinced as he stated his ex-team-mates' words "were a bit wild" in comparing Mainoo to the French footballing icon. Beya added that Ferdinand had compared the young midfielder to Clarence Seedorf, to which the ex-England captain said: "I think he's more of a Seedorf player, that's what I think. I think his style of football is more Seedorf."

Explaining his feelings on the Scholes-Zidane-Mainoo debate, Ferdinand said: "But Scholes saying he is 10 times the player he was, and I think you've got to remember that telling number there at 19. At 19.

‌

"That's what he's saying, Scholesy wasn't developed yet, still had fantastic potential, but Scholes had asthma, he couldn't finish games properly at a young age and stuff. He wasn't nowhere near the player he became at 19.

"At 19, this kid is playing in European championships, do you know what I mean? It's not like he's a kid who was there and you're going, 'Oh, he's just in the youth team, just got out of the youth team or the under-21s.'

The midfielder featured in United's loss to Grimsby Town on Wednesday (Image: Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

‌

"He was playing for England, starting for England. Scholesy at 19 wasn't doing that. So that's where he's talking about the comparison. But listen, I'm a massive fan of Kobbie."

Ferdinand went on to detail just how Mainoo should be pushing for a start in Amorim's side, adding that he hopes the chance doesn't come if the young star isn't prepared. He said: "But he has to work out, 'What do I need to do to get back in his team?'

"And we've all had these moments in our careers where you're like, 'S*** man, I'm not playing. What do I do?' Well, the first thing you do is go to the manager and go, 'What am I not doing that I need to be doing to get in this team?' Right. He's going to tell me. Then I go to work on a training pitch.

‌

"Every day I go to work. I play up against whoever, Bruno [Fernandes] etc, and I start dominating them. Just that's the type of mentality and mindset he has to go with. And then when the chance comes to play, take it with both hands.

"Now his argument right now will be I'm not getting the chance to take it. And that's a fair argument. But what I would say is do not let the chance come and you're not ready. So train hard, be focused."

Mainoo has spent much of 2025 sidelined (Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)

‌

Mainoo looked to have received his chance on Wednesday night in the Carabao Cup, and many may argue that he made up for going two behind by assisting one goal and scoring his penalty. However, Beya believes that the midfielder is unlikely to get many more decisions fall his way under Amorim, due to the Portuguese manager's strict system that he "refuses to change."

He added: "I agree Rio, but I also think he is going to be someone suffering because of this system that Amorim plays and he refuses to change it. You know like it's you've got the talent there man no one can tell me that Kobbie Mainoo cannot play football, no one can tell me that boy isn't brilliant.

"One of the best talents I've ever seen, and you're telling me for whatever reason he couldn't get minutes yesterday [against Fulham]? He couldn't even come off [the bench]?"

Article continues below

The Athletic reports that United are happy with Mainoo at the club and aren't looking to get him out of the door before the deadline on September 1. However, there have been reports that the 20-year-old's valuation has dropped from £70million to £45m in recent weeks, and could drop even further before the window slams shut.

If Beya's claims are thought to be correct and Mainoo sees no way back into Amorim's starting squad, then the England international may well consider a move away from Old Trafford for more regular football.

Click here to read article