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Owen Hargreaves believes Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo can develop into one of the finest players in world football. After the emphatic Champions League win over Sabah, the former United player showered praise on the academy product, pointing to his outstanding technique and calmness under pressure as the main reasons he could become a superstar in the years ahead.

A spectacular return to Europe

Manchester United marked their return to the Champions League in stunning style on Thursday, recording a dominant 4-0 win over tournament debutants Sabah at Old Trafford. Manager Michael Carrick placed complete trust in the midfield partnership of Mainoo and Youri Tielemans for the European fixture.

Having unexpectedly slipped out of favour under previous manager Ruben Amorim, Mainoo has flourished completely since coming under Carrick’s management. The young midfielder produced yet another authoritative display, drawing huge appreciation for a player who came through the academy without costing the club anything and who now appears invaluable on the biggest stage.

Praise for an invaluable academy graduate

Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Hargreaves was glowing in his judgement of Mainoo. He said: “I’ve never seen Kobbie play bad. Every time I watch him play football, I think, ‘How can somebody not play this young man?’ I just think he’s a fabulous football player. Academy-grown, didn’t cost a club a pound, and when you think about some of the fees that these players are going for. Obviously, they signed Santos and Tielemans for £85 million combined. Baleba was probably £70m. What would Kobbie be worth? It’s worth more than them all. No disrespect to any of them, but I just love his game.”

A future superstar for Manchester United

Hargreaves went on to underline just how high Mainoo’s ceiling could be, stressing both his technical quality and his capacity to cope with pressure. Hargreaves explained: “You can just pass him the ball anywhere at any time. Technically, just so gifted, glides with the ball. That’s what a Man United midfielder needs to do at all times. Obviously, with Bruno in front of him, whether he plays as a six or an eight, he’s what you build around. He’s a star. I think he’s gonna be a superstar. He’s only 21 years old, and he plays like he’s 30. That’s how he plays football in the most stressful environment – just chilled.”

Crucial derby test awaits

Manchester United must now shift focus to a huge Premier League meeting with Manchester City on Sunday. With Mainoo now firmly established as a vital part of the midfield set-up, Carrick will be counting heavily on his composure once again. If United are to halt the perfect start made by City, Mainoo will need to produce another world-class display.