Rio Ferdinand compares Man Utd midfielder Kobbie Mainoo to four-time Champions League winner

Rio Ferdinand compares Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo to a four-time Champions League winner. Kobbie Mainoo was the hero in the team’s late win over Wolves on Thursday.

Following Manchester United’s late winner against Wolves, Rio Ferdinand believes Kobbie Mainoo’s control and awareness are reminiscent of AC Milan icon Clarence Seedorf.

Mainoo was the hero at Molineux on Thursday night, curling a dramatic 97th-minute winner past Jose Sa with excellent footwork in a tight space. United had twice thrown away a two-goal lead, and Pedro Neto’s added-time equaliser appeared to be yet another hammer blow to Erik ten Hag’s side.

But Mainoo, who began his eighth Premier League game of the season in the Midlands, had other plans, managing to compose himself in the dying minutes to snatch victory at Molineux stadium.
The 19-year-old has received a lot of praise in recent months, and Ferdinand believes he’s one of the best players in his position.

“I’m not saying he’s of the same ability and he’s that player yet, but you give me the signs, this gives me the vibes of Clarence Seedorf,” Ferdinand was quoted as saying by TNT Sports.

“The way you can manoeuvre in tight situations, and the way he manipulates his ball, using his body at times, but then shifting it and simply popping it through [Max] Kilman’s legs there. Beautiful.

“He can also be elusive at times. Just the control and awareness to choose his position there. Some players see the headlights and the back pages and decide, ‘I’m just going for it’. “He simply caressed it.”

Comparisons to Seedorf should be taken seriously, given that the 87-cap Dutch international played more than 400 games for AC Milan during their peak, winning two Champions League titles.

The midfielder also won Europe’s flagship competition at Ajax and Real Madrid in previous years, while there were plenty of league titles with all three clubs.