Casemiro shows up Ruben Amorim with striking comment on Man Utd team-mate

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Casemiro has appeared to disagree with former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim on Kobbie Mainoo , naming his teammate as ‘one of the best’ in his position. The Brazilian's comments flew in the face of what Amorim had said about Mainoo previously, insisting he could be the world's best for the next 12 years.

Mainoo found himself on the sidelines under Amorim and was unsure of his future at the club, even contemplating a loan or permanent exit amid interest from Chelsea and Napoli. He has, however, been reintegrated into the starting lineup by interim manager Michael Carrick and has been flourishing for the club again.

The academy graduate has started every game under the stewardship of Carrick, which earned him a place back in Thomas Tuchel ’s England squad for the current international break. Mainoo featured in both friendlies against Uruguay and Japan and will be bidding to earn a place on the plane for this year’s World Cup .

Under Amorim, Mainoo failed to start a Premier League game this season, with his only start coming in the shock Carabao Cup defeat against Grimsby Town . It led to Mainoo pushing to leave the club in the summer window .

But the 20-year-old's immediate impact since coming back to the fold post Amorim has shown up the club's former boss. Several big-name pundits and club icons were baffled at his lack of game time and now Casemiro has twisted the knife by tipping him to go on to stardom.

“Kobbie is the present and the future,” the Brazilian said in a Q&A with United. “I think that he is one of the best No.8s and can be for that for the next 12 years.

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“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 FA Cup [Final, vs Man City in 2024]. Kobbie is the present and the future.”

When questioned back in December why Mainoo wasn’t getting game time, Amorim bit back. "You always ask me the same thing,” he said.

"I understand what you are saying. You love Kobbie. He starts for England, but that doesn't mean I need to put Kobbie on when I feel I shouldn't."

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Former Liverpool and England midfielder Steven Gerrard is among the pundits to have recently blasted Amorim’s treatment of the player . “I felt really sorry for him in terms of the kid’s career under Amorim,” he told TNT Sport.

“I think it was out of order that he never got any opportunity, especially with Man United being so inconsistent.

“But not surprised that Michael Carrick [started to play him]. I think that was one of the straight wins if you walk into a job, if you like. Get Kobbie Mainoo back in, get him smiling, give him game time and minutes, and get him fit and up to the speed where we all know he can play.