The FA Youth Cup has been the launching pad for many successful Manchester United careers, and everyone who followed the team's run to the 2022 trophy talked about two players in particular. It was difficult to ignore Alejandro Garnacho, who finished as United's top scorer, firing the Under-18s to glory with two goals in the final against Nottingham Forest. But behind him was the more unassuming yet equally influential Kobbie Mainoo, who orchestrated United's play from deep and held everything together.
Garnacho galvanised big crowds at Old Trafford with his talismanic displays in the Youth Cup and has catapulted himself into the hearts of the wider United support with a stunning breakthrough season in 2022-23. The Argentine is a star in the making and loves the limelight.
Mainoo is a very different character, but albeit at a steadier pace, he is following in Garnacho's footsteps into Erik ten Hag's side. After getting his first taste of first-team football last season with a smattering of appearances, the 18-year-old will be one of the players to watch in United's pre-season campaign, which begins on Wednesday against Leeds in Norway and will take the team across the United States.
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