GARY NEVILLE has claimed he was told Manchester United only signed Sofyan Amrabat due to the injury of Kobbie Mainoo.
Erik ten Hag handed the 18-year-old his first Premier League start for United at Goodison Park on Sunday with Ambrabat on the bench.
The young star produced a brilliant performance in midfield as the Red Devils romped to a 3-0 win over the Toffees.
Alejandro Garnacho stole the headlines with his incredible overhead kick, but it was Mainoo that England fans were claiming could be Gareth Southgate’s missing piece of the jigsaw for this summer’s European Championship.
He made his senior debut in the Carabao Cup win over Charlton back in January and then came off the bench in the Premier League victory over Leicester City later last season.
Mainoo was then part of United’s squad for the pre-season tour, where he shone under Ten Hag only for an injury to rule him out of action until to last weekend.
READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
TAKE THE MIC
I made two appearances for Man Utd and retired at 27 – now I'm managing in EFL
TURB0
Win a VW Tiguan R or £30k cash alternative from just 71p with our discount code
Meanwhile, after he was sidelined, United beat the clock on transfer deadline day in September to secure the services of Amrabat on a season-long loan move from Fiorentina.
That deal has no option to buy permanently and the 27-year-old, who came on as substitute against Everton, has so far struggled to make much of an impact at Old Trafford after initially being deployed as left-back due to injuries.
Now United legend Neville has claimed that he was told previously that Ambrabat was only signed because of injury to Mainoo.
The now Sky Sports pundit, as quoted by the Metro, said: “I’d heard earlier on in the season because I’m like everybody else I’m asking 'What’s going on? Why are we not signing a player in midfield?' And it was told to me that if Mainoo stays fit then they won’t sign another midfield player.
Most read in Football
STAR SCARE
Footie ace in critical condition in hospital after collapsing mid-match
TRAGIC PASSING
Heartbroken Rashford dedicates Man Utd goal to cousin who ‘recently’ died
VAR CRASH
Major VAR change planned that could turn Prem matches into two-hour marathons
SLAMMED DUNK
Dunk becomes first victim of Premier League rule for 15 YEARS with red card
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
“Mainoo obviously got injured with the ankle injury and then all of a sudden Amrabat came back onto the table. But they weren’t going to sign another player.
“They were looking at Mainoo as being the solution and I was like [puffs cheeks].
“That’s a lot of faith to put into a young player from Erik ten Hag but I can see why in those 70 minutes we watched.
“I was disappointed when he went off but you can’t criticise Ten Hag for bringing off a young player and putting some experience on but there was still something in the game, United hadn’t got a third by that point.
“He was still the best player on the pitch. Mainoo was United’s best player throughout the game and mostly throughout that period that United were drifting and went asleep.”
MAN UTD NEWS LIVE: Stay up to date with all of the latest transfer and takeover news from Old Trafford
Source: Read Full Article
