Kobbie Mainoo Ankle Injury Update: Man Utd Youngster Leaves on Crutches After Real Madrid Friendly

• Manchester United youngster Kobbie Mainoo suffered an ankle injury against Real Madrid on Wednesday
• The 18-year-old midfielder picked up the injury in the opening minutes of the friendly match in Houston
• Real Madrid defeated Manchester United with Jude Bellingham and Joselu scoring for the Spanish side

The injury bug has struck Manchester United again.

Youngster, Kobbie Mainoo, was forced off in the opening minutes of the pre-season matchup against Real Madrid with an ankle injury.

The 18-year-old midfielder’s night ended prematurely after opposition winger, Rodrygo, fell onto him following a tackle by United's Casemiro.

Mainoo suffers ankle injury

Play immediately stopped as Mainoo struggled to get back to his feet. He was clearly in some discomfort as the youngster remained on the pitch.

Real Madrid and Manchester United players surrounded the midfielder as physios tended to the injured star, per Manchester Evening News.

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Mainoo left the field after a few minutes with the help of United’s two physios. He wasn’t able to put pressure on his left leg as he made his way to the sideline.

Mainoo leaves on crutches

He was later spotted wearing a protective boot and walking on crutches inside NRG Stadium.

Losing Mainoo to injury is a huge blow for manager, Erik ten Hag, who used the youngster in four of United’s five friendly matches before the Real Madrid clash.

Manchester United fans were excited to see him play in the centre of midfield alongside Casemiro, but that pairing lasted just a few minutes in the match against the Spanish giants.

United lose to Real Madrid

To make matters worse for United, they conceded a goal minutes after Mainoo’s departure. Jude Bellingham scored a fantastic chip shot in the sixth minute over the onrushing Andre Onana, who was on debut, per Sports Brief.

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The Englishman looked like he was offside when he made his run toward the box to collect the pass, but there was no VAR to review that passage of play.

It was 2-0 for Real Madrid in the 89th minute after Joselu scored an exquisite bicycle kick, as Sports Brief also reported. Lucas Vazquez delivered a pinpoint cross to the Los Blancos newcomer, who found himself completely unguarded at the back post.

He did not hesitate to apply the audacious finish to Vazquez’s pass, and the result was jaw-dropping. Joselu's acrobatic volley went past Onana and into the back of the net, sending fans inside the stadium into a frenzy.

The match finished 2-0 in favour of Real Madrid, per ESPN.

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Sports Brief also reported on Onana making a terrific save to deny Vinicius Junior in the first half.

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The keeper thwarted Vini's attempt with his left hand after the latter made a strong run in the box.

United paid Inter Milan £47.2 million to acquire the services of the Cameroonian on a five-year deal.