Nottingham Forest attacker Anthony Elanga is not surprised by the rise of Kobbie Mainoo in the Manchester United first-team.
Mainoo seized the opportunity to star in the Reds’ midfield while Casemiro was out with a hamstring injury, between November and January, but the pair have recently formed a solid partnership in the middle of the pitch.
Erik ten Hag’s side have won five of the six games Casemiro and Mainoo have started together, and the Reds face Nottingham Forest and Man City later this week.
Elanga, who left United to join Forest in the summer, still talks to the 18-year-old regularly and has spoken to The Times about his breakthrough season.
“He’s an amazing player and a top person and I just want him to keep doing what he’s doing because the sky’s the limit for him,” Elanga said. “I’m not surprised at all. I saw it when I was playing with him in the academy for the Under-19s Youth League. Those that have a real eye, they’ll know he plays the same as he did in the academy. Obviously he’s had to adapt but he still plays the same playing style.”
Speaking about how difficult it was to leave United in the summer, Elanga added: “It was difficult [to leave] but it was needed because I wanted to play and I didn’t want to spend another season just playing 10 minutes or not playing for 10 games. I wanted a fresh start but I knew it wouldn’t be easy leaving a club that I had been at for nine years.”
Elanga has become a key player at Forest this season.
Subscribe to the Stretty News podcast Strettycast for weekly episodes on Manchester United. You can also sign up to the ad-free Stretty Newsletter. Get the Stretty News verdict on all matters Manchester United.
