Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has opened up about the challenges of mentoring rising star Kobbie Mainoo in the age of social media. The Brazilian veteran, who will depart Old Trafford this summer after four seasons, has been guiding the 21-year-old England international through a period of fluctuating form and playing time.
A Mentor's Perspective
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand's podcast, Casemiro admitted that social media makes it harder to deliver tough love. "I try, I try, but the phone, the social media is very difficult because everyone sees on the phone, nah, you play good. You think, 'ah, you play good. Yeah, it's top, it's top,'" he said.
Casemiro stressed the importance of continuous improvement: "He's an unbelievable player. But he needs to train, train, train. He needs fear - I play, I don't play. I need to push the training because this guy is the present and the future of the club."
Mainoo's Struggle for Game Time
The young midfielder struggled for minutes under former manager Ruben Amorim, failing to start a single Premier League match before Amorim's departure in January. Casemiro addressed this with Mainoo directly: "In this moment, he doesn't play too much. Maybe it's the first time he doesn't play, but it's not the last. You don't need to drop your head. You need change. How? I don't know. Work. Work. Work."
He advised Mainoo to communicate with the manager and adapt: "Talk with the manager about what you need. I go with Amorim. I do what I need to, to play. I can't play in this team because I need this, this, this. Okay. I try, but it's not the last time."
High Praise for Mainoo
Despite the challenges, Casemiro holds Mainoo in high regard: "He's very easy. He's a calm guy. Very calm. But for me this guy is the present in the football club. This guy is an unbelievable player."
Both players have been instrumental in United's resurgence under interim head coach Michael Carrick, securing Champions League qualification and a third-place finish. Since Carrick replaced Amorim in January, United have suffered only two defeats, with Casemiro and Mainoo regular fixtures in the lineup.
