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Casemiro has urged Manchester United to continue backing Kobbie Mainoo, insisting the youngster has what it takes to be "one of the best eights" for over a decade to come.
The experienced Brazilian, who will hand over United's midfield responsibilities when he departs Old Trafford in June, watched up close as Mainoo enjoyed a stunning rise in 2024 before a difficult spell in 2025.
The youth product was surprisingly sidelined by former United boss Ruben Amorim, failing to start a single Premier League match in the opening half of 2025–26. Having returned from a minor Christmas injury, he has featured in all but 14 minutes of 900 available league minutes since Michael Carrick took charge in mid-January, with Casemiro partnering him each time.
"Kobbie is the present and the future," Casemiro told ManUtd.com in a fan Q&A. "I think that he is one of the best eights and can be for that for the next 12 years. He is a player I really like—he always wants the ball.
"It is true that football can't change your mentality, but Kobbie demonstrated that he hasn't changed his focus once. He has to continue focusing like he is now and continue playing the important role he is now. But what a player he is, he is a great player. He has demonstrated this, in the Euros final with England, he has demonstrated it in finals, he scored in the [2024] FA Cup final.
"He is the present and the future."
Kobbie Mainoo's World Cup Prospects
Just months after breaking into United's first team at 18, Mainoo had earned his spot in England's strongest midfield setup. He had only three international caps when Euro 2024 began, yet forced his way into the starting lineup after the group stage as England advanced all the way to the final.
His international progress slowed considerably after that tournament, earning just one more cap—in September 2024—before being recalled last month following his revival at club level.
Mainoo came on as a substitute in England's draw with Uruguay, then started in the loss to Japan, and will be hoping a strong finish to the club campaign secures him a spot in Thomas Tuchel's starting XI for the Group L opener against Croatia in Arlington on June 17.
He came on for Jordan Henderson against Uruguay and started alongside Elliot Anderson in the Japan fixture. Should Mainoo feature from the start at the World Cup, it would most likely be next to Declan Rice rather than Anderson, though the Arsenal midfielder was forced to withdraw in March due to injury.
If Manchester United have their way in the transfer market, however, Mainoo could find himself lining up alongside Anderson at Old Trafford from next season.