‘Remarkable’: Lineker says United have a talent in their ranks who’s showing glimmers of Real Madrid star

Kobbie Mainoo had already been the talk of the town as he approached the end of his breakthrough Manchester United season, until his showing in the FA Cup final had him receiving widespread plaudits.

The 19-year-old proved that he can come in clutch on the greatest of occasions after he extended the Reds’ lead to 2-0 in the first half against Manchester City with a stellar finish past Stefan Ortega.

It came just nine minutes after his fellow Carrington graduate, Alejandro Garnacho, drew first blood at Wembley, capitalising on a horror mistake from Ortega and Josko Gvardiol to then calmly tap the ball in in front of the travelling City supporters.

Last week, it was announced that Mainoo had been included in Gareth Southgate’s provisional 30-man Euros squad, which will need to be reduced to 26 players before the tournament kicks off on June 14.

Given that the England boss was in attendance at the final, you’d expect that United’s starlet will be keeping his place over some of his senior compatriots.

Mainoo hailed by England legend

Three Lions legend Gary Lineker shared yet another glowing verdict of Mainoo in today’s episode of The Rest Is Football, telling the panel: “Sky is the limit, I think. I’m impressed with his remarkable maturity, [and] his confidence.”

“I think he knows how good he is,” the pundit continued. “He reminds me in that sense of [Jude] Bellingham. I know that’s a big shout, but he’s two years younger. I think he’s remarkably talented, I think he will feature in the Euros – I don’t know where and when. Gareth was in the stand and everyone in the ground could see how good he was, how confident he was.

“You can see he’s got almost an aura about him, the right sort of confidence.”