Paul Pogba, who spent six years at Manchester United across two spells, has offered a measured but revealing assessment of Kobbie Mainoo’s future at the club, suggesting that guaranteed first-team football should be the young midfielder’s primary consideration when weighing any decision.
Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the former France international acknowledged the difficulty of Mainoo’s position, noting that external interest in the teenager is inevitable given his quality. “He played and he’s such a talented, such a talented kid. He’s still young,” Pogba said. “It’s difficult. It’s really difficult. It’s the way he feels. If he feels that, if he’s good with the manager, if the manager really trusts him, because he’s going to have all the clubs behind him, this is for sure.”
Pogba elaborated on the psychological burden placed on a gifted young player who finds himself underused, describing the internal pressure that builds when those around him believe he should be featuring more regularly. “A kid like this… that thinks that he can play and other people think that he can play, his managers pushing him, telling him, ‘You can play in this team, why you don’t play?’ That also puts this in this kid and he’s like, ‘Yeah, I should leave,'” he explained.
Despite laying out the logic for a potential departure, Pogba stopped short of directly advising Mainoo to leave Old Trafford. The World Cup winner was careful to acknowledge the deep affection that exists between the player and the club. “Maybe it’s not the right decision. And it’s really hard for me to say he should leave when he’s so loved by the people at United,” Pogba conceded. “He’s such a great player, a big potential and he can do a great career at Manchester United also. I just wish him the best… I just want to see this kid play because it’s enjoyable to see him play.”
Mainoo’s situation at United has shifted considerably in recent months. The England international found himself on the periphery under former head coach Ruben Amorim, with reports suggesting he sought a loan move last summer to secure more regular playing time — a request the club denied. However, since Michael Carrick’s appointment as interim manager, Mainoo has re-established himself as a consistent starter, representing a significant reversal of fortunes for the 21-year-old.
With Mainoo’s current contract entering its final 12 months this summer, the timing of Pogba’s comments is notable. According to reports, the academy graduate now appears on the verge of committing to a new long-term deal at Old Trafford, a development that would bring an end to months of uncertainty surrounding one of United’s most promising homegrown talents.
Mainoo burst onto the scene during the 2023-24 season, making his Premier League debut and becoming a key figure in Erik ten Hag’s midfield before going on to represent England at Euro 2024. His trajectory since then has been less straightforward, making his current resurgence under Carrick all the more significant as United navigate a turbulent transitional period both on and off the pitch.
Pogba himself knows the complexities of life at Old Trafford. The 33-year-old departed the club for the second time in 2022 before serving a four-year doping ban that was later reduced to 18 months on appeal. His perspective on the internal pressures young players face at a club of United’s scale carries particular weight given his own experience.
