Paul Scholes Praises Manchester United Midfielder as the Closest to Zinedine Zidane

High praise is coming from Manchester United legend, Paul Scholes, for the young talent of Kobbie Mainoo.

Scholes believes that Mainoo exhibits qualities that resemble those of former France captain, Zinedine Zidane.

Last season, the 19-year-old made a breakthrough into Erik ten Hag’s first team.

Mainoo capped off an impressive domestic campaign by scoring in the 2-1 victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

Additionally, he played a key role for England in their journey to the Euro 2024 final, where they were defeated 2-1 by Spain.

Speaking to The Guardian, Scholes exclaimed, “He embodies the essence of [Zinedine] Zidane in his ball control, reception, and ability to maneuver past opponents with ease.

“I’ve heard reports of him holding his ground against Casemiro in training, sometimes even outshining him. However, performance on the field is what ultimately matters.

“The first time I watched him play, I was struck by his composure and confidence in receiving the ball; it was remarkable to see such a young player exhibit such traits.”