Mainoo sat down with former Manchester United forward Danny Webber to discuss his past footballing idols, and reflect on his journey through the Carrington Academy.

Danny Webber: Kobbie, thank you for joining us for this little chat. You know, I'm really looking forward to hearing about your influences in life. I think we can start at the very beginning. So what was your first impression of football, and who really caught your eye in the football world early on?

Mainoo: Obviously watching Manchester United early on, I would say Rooney. And then I used to watch videos, like a lot of skill videos and stuff. Always Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar, people like that, I was always doing that in my spare time. Just watching, searching for skill videos, waiting for new ones to drop, and then following all the players from there.

That's interesting because it's a different dynamic. When we grew up, it was like, every day you're waiting to watch a game, or you're waiting on a Saturday night, and I used to follow Ian Wright and people like that. But because you have so many skill videos that you could watch, how did that affect your performance on the pitch, or how much you practiced?

Because I'd watch the stuff on the website, and there was a pitch right next to my house. So if I watched it the night before, I'd have my boots ready, my gear laid out at the bottom of my bed. And then as soon as I woke up, I'd jump out of bed and go to the pitch, and then it'd just be practicing, trying to drag people with me, anyone, even pestering my sister, my dad, anyone. Just trying to do the skills and everything. So, yeah, it definitely helped me a lot.

And then when you started playing, you were still young, you were at Cheadle & Gatley, weren't you? And then Failsworth, wasn't it? At that age group, was there anyone like a young coach who really, really helped you, to sort of nurture and develop yourself?

I feel like the coaches that helped me the most at my age group were on the Manchester United side, to be honest, like Allan Maiya. And people like that, but I think it was more the freedom that they gave us. Because even when you first come to the club, at the start of training, you just go straight into games, straight into small-sided games with small goals, and it's just freedom, to enjoy yourself and stuff like that. So I feel like that gave me the opportunity to practice all the things that I was seeing. I was six or seven then. Even at the training center, even there it was just kickabouts, you can practice all the things that I was watching, and all the people that I was obviously following in football.

So you mentioned Rooney. How much of an influence was he on you as a person? Was it the mentality, the skill, or what aspect did you learn from him?

I feel like for me, Rooney was like the template of what a Manchester United player the coaches would tell you. Because he was so hardworking, and so gritty, and skillful, and he could finish, he could do everything. So I feel like when the coaches would always give examples of what a Manchester United player is, in my head, Rooney would always trump that. For me that was the prime example, because he worked so hard, he was so good on the ball, how he led the team and stuff like that, and the respect that he showed.

I think you're right, that is the template for playing at this club, as you now know. And it comes with that off-the-field presence, that character, that hard work, and that humility. Off the field, if I was to say one person, for better or worse, who really helped you, who helped shape you, who would it be?

I would say definitely my dad, and my mum. My mum and my dad. They were always taking me to training, and always putting up with me, dragging me into the garden or wherever, just to let me practice, let them go in goal, and then I'd just smash shots at them for hours. Yeah. And even they were always pushing me, to get better, and to want to get better, and never let me settle, or feel like it was enough.

What did that look like? Because, say, when you're twelve years old, you've finished a game, you're sitting in the car with your dad. What did that look like? What did that sound like?

It depends how I played. If I played well, then he'd let me know I played well. But it would never be, "You played well, that's it." There would always be something like you could have done this better, and a few times, you need a little bit of tough love. But, at the time you might not like it, but it's definitely what I needed at the time.

Did you realize that as you got older? Because a lot of parents, that relationship now with their son or daughter, even with footballers, is one of the most important relationships. So you always felt supported at that time, even if you were getting a little bit of stick sometimes, you still felt supported?

Yeah, definitely, I just feel like it's very, very necessary to have someone or anyone to push you. Doesn't have to be parents, friends even, but it definitely helped shape who I am now, and my mentality towards football.

Off the field, you love your fashion, you love your music, that's obvious. I don't know you that much, but I can tell you're into it. Who influenced you in that way? What designers do you like, and what's your direction with that?

I think it's always like my older brother, my older brother. Always looked up to him, he's always been into that stuff. My older sisters influenced the music. They were playing Jay-Z and all that old stuff when I was seven or eight. So I was always around that environment. So I think I just picked up from them, and then it just continued on. But it's very normal in my house, it's always been, my mum always likes to look good, my dad always likes to look sharp.

So that's like a benchmark. Are there any other sports you watch?

Yeah, I watch a lot of basketball. More recently, I've got more into American football, so the NFL. This season that just went, I was watching it a lot. I'd say those are the main two.

And is there anyone who influences you in those sports? Is there anyone who's a standout that you like in those things, or are you just more interested in the sport?

Standout in basketball, for me, I'd say Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, Victor Wembanyama, obviously LeBron and people like that. But in terms of young players, I'd say them. And then American football, like Jalen Hurts, Jahmyr Gibbs, Caleb Williams, people like that.

And what is it about them that attracts you? Or what's the reason?

I like the way they play. None of them play normal, those young guys, they all play with their own style, and it's unique to them. And I think that's what attracts me when I watch something.

Finally, in your current dressing room, who's helped you the most?

I would say Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, definitely. Because even a couple of seasons ago, when I wasn't playing much. I was like seventeen, and the season that I made my debut, I wasn't playing hardly at all. Made one or two appearances, but I got to watch, and I trained with the first team every day. So I got to watch them closely, and see what they do. I remember the first few training sessions, I was shocked, I was like, damn, this is top level. But then you watch them, I was trying to dissect what they do, and how they get into this space and that space. Because I wasn't playing games, I had enough time, so training was my games. So I had to watch them very closely, and try to implement it into my game, and try to make myself better, and try to adapt to the level quicker. And Casemiro, but even now, I still watch what they do, and learn from them, and they tell me things and give me advice. So those two have definitely helped me the most, without a doubt.

I've seen some reports that Casemiro says let's go out and have some fun. Is that true? When you go out to play games, say let's go and have fun?

Yes. He says that a lot, you have to enjoy, you have to enjoy football and the big moments, and before every Premier League game. Before the game, he'll say let's go out and have fun, and get on the ball, because this is what we love. I love getting on the ball.

So, it takes the seriousness out of the game, doesn't it? It removes the big weight of the game that you're playing. It just keeps you like a little kid, where you just go out and play. Have you played much futsal?

Yeah, I've played a lot of futsal.

I see that in your game. I can see the futsal elements in your game in tight spaces and things like that. Thank you for your time, thank you for your humility. And all the best, as always.

Thank you.