Manchester United’s teenage sensation Kobbie Mainoo has revealed his nickname in the Red Devils dressing room – and it’s a reference to his famous family member.
The 18-year-old has been one of the shining lights for the Red Devils this term in what has been an otherwise underwhelming campaign and as a result, has earned his first senior England call-up. It was while away on international duty that Mainoo explained what some of his United colleagues call him back in Manchester.
Speaking in his England’s ‘First Impressions’ interview, Mainoo shed light on the fact that his team-mates at club level affectionately call him ‘Love Island’, as a nod to the fact his brother Jordan Mainoo-Hames featured on the reality show back in 2019.
“My brother was on it,” the United midfield ace explained. “I’m close to him. You know what, going back to another question – my nickname. The kit man at United always called me ‘Love Island’. [He’s been doing so] since I was like 16.”
Keen to point out that Mainoo is not one to turn on the charm like Love Island viewers saw his brother do, the Red Devils star added: “No, it’s not even that. They’re just jokers.”
Mainoo’s England call-up marks the next step in what has been a meteoric rise to first-team football for both club and country. Keen to reach the next level, the 18-year-old admitted he has his sights set on being named in Gareth Southgate’s squad for Euro 2024 in the summer.
“I think that’s the end goal for the season, to get into that squad,” Mainoo revealed, after his first training session with England at senior level. “Obviously I’ve got to focus on club football in the meantime, and hopefully that’ll figure itself out.
“It’s been a pretty mad couple of days, Sunday obviously was a great game and a great win. Then to get called up to the Under-21s, obviously I was excited to come.
“Then getting down here and realising that I was with the first team was amazing. I was shocked and happy and it’s been a whirlwind of emotions.”
England welcome Brazil to Wembley on Saturday night, before meeting Belgium on Tuesday at the same venue. Just how many minutes Mainoo will receive remains to be seen, but he is thought incredibly highly of by Three Lions boss Southgate.
