'I've only been nervous once' - Kobbie Mainoo's first major interview on his stunning rise at Manchester United

On the stroll from the academy building, past the fountain of youth and to the main hub at Carrington, the Manchester United press officer is advising Kobbie Mainoo. "I'll be fine," he says.

The 19-year-old enters the spartan press room just off reception and shakes hands. Mainoo strolls in and his assertive handshake is vice-like.

Then the conversation flows like Mainoo's passing. He is as much of a delight to converse with as he is to watch.

This is Mainoo's first interview with the press and the press officer optimistically touts him as a United mixed zone representative every four weeks for the next ten years. They will hope to keep him longer.

Graduates are stencilled onto the walls of the academy building, where Mainoo, sporting a vintage 1990 FA Cup final United jacket, posed for the club photographer. It is a matter of time until Mainoo is recognised.

Nothing fazes Mainoo, sitting at the head of the table. He is disarmingly nerveless at an age where students are approaching the end of their first year at university.

READ MORE: 'Clubs tried to get messages to him' - how United kept Mainoo amid City interest

READ MORE: I coached Mainoo and Garnacho aged 17 - more debuts will follow

Has he ever been nervous? "Everton," he confirms. His first Premier League start. "When I first started I was nervous for that, but once I got my head around that I was playing I just tried to do my thing. Play my way. I’ve played my way through the academy and I’ve not changed for the occasion.

"That’s the best way to stay true to who I am. Because I feel if I do get nervous and stuff, you start to change."

He did not appear nervous. Mainoo was the man of the match in that 3-0 victory, his first senior appearance in four months. Even for a United-bred prodigy, the rise has been stratospheric.

And surreal. Mainoo lined up against Danny Welbeck of Brighton last week. "When I was younger I used to have a high top, so everyone said I looked like Danny Welbeck!" he chuckles.

"Obviously on the pitch a lot has changed. A lot more people know my name now. But at home with the family I have around me, they very much keep me grounded and nothing changes at home. When I try to go to the corner shop I get a bit more attention! But, other than that...

"I mean, there were times when eyes weren't on me and all I wanted was for people to see me play football. I used to whisper it, to be playing at Old Trafford, under the lights. And now it's here I can't complain."

Mainoo started United's first four games in pre-season but they had a problem in Houston. A freakish ankle injury 74 seconds into the friendly defeat to Real Madrid in July sidelined Mainoo until October. He had to bide time with appearances in the EFL Trophy and Uefa Youth League.

"It was a tough one to take and took me a few days but once I’d got my head around it it was just about focusing on getting fit," Mainoo says. "I knew there was nothing I could do about it, I couldn’t go back and change it so it was just about focusing on my recovery.

"I have a good family around me that were supporting and helping me after surgery so I was just focused on getting back fit and getting back in the manager’s mind.

"I was playing for the 21s because I needed fitness having been out for so long and before that, at the end of last season, I had an injury to my quad as well. So it was about getting minutes under my belt.

"I didn’t know about Everton but leading up to the game after the international break was when I found out I was playing - a couple of days before [the match]. I felt ready for it by then."

Mainoo started Spanish lessons on Zoom during his rehabilitation and intends to restart them in the summer. How is his Spanish? "Un poco," he smiles. A little. Real Madrid have already got a generational talent of an English midfielder.

That Mainoo was accommodated in an XI that featured Casemiro, Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes against Madrid in the summer signalled Erik ten Hag's intention to start the teenager in the team when the season started. Sliding doors.

But then another door opened. Mainoo has started in 28 of United's last 33 games, is a regular for his club and maybe soon his country. He was the man of the match on his full England debut against Belgium in March and is in Gareth Southgate's provisional European Championship squad.

How did he find out? A phone call? "Nah, I just got a text to say I was in the provisional squad and then saw the team come out so yeah, happy. I was buzzing.

"I’m not trying to think about too much because we’ve got a final coming up so all my focus is on the club right now. But obviously I’m going to the pre-camp and if I get selected for the Euros it will be amazing."

Mainoo is among the handful of must-keeps at United and that shot of him, Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho celebrating the latter's goal against West Ham in February is the idealistic image of the new United. Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe effusively referenced the picture three months ago.

It seemed to be a nod to the West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus. So was it pre-planned? "I always ask Garna before the game what's the celebration gonna be if he scores.

"And he said he wasn't gonna tell me. So he was like, 'I'm not telling you, I'm not telling you.' So I'm like, 'Okay.' I saw him jump up on the advertising board when he scored and me and Rasmus just jumped up there with him. He (Garnacho) wanted it for himself! But yeah, we jumped in there and it was a nice picture."

Mainoo is close with Garnacho, a fellow FA Youth Cup winner in 2022, and Amad, one of three Africans in the squad. Mainoo could have represented Ghana but elected England. How has that gone down with the family? "They all support me in the decision. Maybe distant family when I’m in Ghana, they give me a bit for it! But they all support me in my decision."

It felt remiss that Mainoo was not in the line-up of seasonal award winners at Carrington on Thursday. He has notched four goals from 31 appearances this season, his 97th-minute winner at Wolves and curler against Liverpool goal of the month contenders.

"Wolves: when I got the ball, I just saw the defender coming out so I just wanted to 'meg him," Mainoo explains.

Did you shout it?

"Nah! I could've but no, no! So once I got the 'meg, I thought it had opened up and Omari (Forson) had made the run so it was just on to get the shot on. So that was a nice first Prem goal.

"Liverpool: when the ball came to me, I wanted the touch to go there so I could have a lot of options what to do but when it fell the way it did, the shot was on, so I took it.

"The goal doesn't move. You know where the goal is, so when the touch went there I knew it was on, there were a lot of players so the keeper couldn't see a lot.

"I just saw the comparisons (with Federico Macheda's winner against Aston Villa) after. When the ball hit the back of the net, I was just celebrating a goal at Old Trafford against Liverpool! I was just thinking about that. But when I saw the comparisons it was mad to see.

"I could see my mum with my cousin in the crowd in front of me [that day]. That's who I blew a kiss to when I scored."

Mainoo's breakthrough came in December of 2022 during United's winter training camp in Cadiz. A callow squad lost both friendlies against Cadiz and Real Betis but Mainoo scored in the former and was a success story from the week. A month later, he was the 246th academy graduate to debut for the first team.

"I think that is the first time he (Ten Hag) saw me properly because it was the first time I had played under him in a game. And to score in that was definitely me turning a corner and he saw me train and I got to show myself a lot more."

Ten Hag made a beeline for Mainoo at Wembley after United won the League Cup last season. Mainoo, 17 at the time, had only played 88 minutes of senior football and it was his first visit to Wembley.

"Your day will come, we are going to win trophies together and your day is coming when you will be part of it on the pitch," Ten Hag told Mainoo. That day could come in the FA Cup final on Saturday.

Mainoo was 11 when United last lifted the cup. He was at home, watching on with his father at home in Stockport when Jesse Lingard volleyed in the winner against Crystal Palace in 2016. Mainoo's parents took turns to drive him the 14 miles to Carrington, with Kobbie listening to 50 Cent in the passenger's seat.

Stockport is a City stronghold. "Yeah," Mainoo sighs. "I mean growing up, obviously, everyone around me was a City fan. There were only a few of us who had to fight as United fans. To play in a derby as an FA Cup final is a dream come true."

Phil Foden, five years Mainoo's senior, also hails from Stockport but their paths never crossed growing up. Mainoo recalls watching Foden at academy level and in Youth Cup ties when Brahim Diaz, now at Real Madrid, was also on City's books.

United staff say Mainoo could have defected to City had the academy not been revived in 2016 by Nicky Butt and then Nick Cox. Gary Neville likened Mainoo to a Pep Guardiola midfielder after his polished performance at Goodison Park.

Mainoo featured in his first senior derby at the Etihad in March. How was it? "Tough. Very tough. They're one of, if not the best team in the world at the moment, you can't deny it.

"But it's a final and, as everyone knows, in finals anything can happen. We just have to prepare ourselves the best we can and go and give ourselves a chance to win.

"We are not coming to take part. We are coming to win and we know they are doing amazing at the moment but we have to prepare as best we can to give ourselves the best chance of winning."

So there's a score to settle after last year's final? "Yeah, 100%."

Mainoo is grateful to Ten Hag. "Obviously he’s my first manager that I’ve played under and he’s always helped me and given me tips and put an arm around me and protected me as well," Mainoo stresses. "You know a young player coming into a United team is always tough."

He'll be fine.