🚨 BREAKING NEWS: “To Be Honest, He Really Shocked Me…” — Kevin De Bruyne Names One Manchester United Star Who Blew Him Away This Season
Football is often full of surprises, but it’s not every day that one of the best midfielders in world football openly admits to being stunned by a rival player’s performance. Yet, that’s exactly what happened when Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne recently spoke about a Manchester United player who unexpectedly caught his eye during the 2024/25 season.
In a candid interview during Belgium’s pre-Euro 2025 camp, De Bruyne was asked to name a player outside of City who impressed him this season. Without hesitation, he replied:
> “To be honest, he really shocked me with his performance for Manchester United this season. I wasn’t expecting that from him. I really thought he was just an average player — until what I saw this season.”
The player in question? Kobbie Mainoo.
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🔥 Kobbie Mainoo: From Prospect to Premier League Star
The 19-year-old midfielder, who was barely known outside United circles this time last year, has taken the Premier League by storm. Mainoo broke into Erik ten Hag’s side early in the 2023/24 campaign, but it was his consistent brilliance, composure beyond his years, and big-game temperament that earned him widespread praise — and now, even the admiration of De Bruyne himself.
> “He’s got elegance, confidence, and he’s always looking to drive the team forward. His decision-making, for someone that young, is unreal,” De Bruyne added. “You can’t teach that. It’s instinct.”
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🧠 Intelligence Beyond His Years
Mainoo’s performances often belied his age. Whether paired with Casemiro or taking control as the deepest midfielder, he bossed games with maturity. His standout showings against the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester City in the FA Cup final highlighted his exceptional technical quality.
In fact, it was that FA Cup final performance, where he scored the winning goal and ran the midfield, that truly silenced any remaining doubters. De Bruyne reportedly watched that game and was “blown away” by Mainoo’s composure under pressure.
> “That goal… and the way he controlled that midfield against top opposition — you don’t see that every day. Especially from someone who hasn’t even turned 20 yet.”
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🗣️ “Everybody Is Talking About Him”
De Bruyne’s sentiments echo what many fans and pundits have been saying all season. Mainoo has gone from being a promising youth academy player to arguably one of the most exciting young midfielders in Europe.
From former United legends to rival coaches, everyone is singing his praises:
Rio Ferdinand: “He plays like he’s been here for ten years. Mainoo is the future of this club.”
Gary Neville: “He’s not just good — he’s elite level already.”
Roy Keane: “If he keeps his head down, trains hard, and avoids distractions, he could become one of the best midfielders in the world.”
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📈 Stats That Back It All Up
Mainoo’s numbers also paint a picture of a player who isn’t just playing well, but dominating:
Appearances: 38 (all comps)
Goals: 6
Assists: 5
Pass completion: 90%
Tackles per game: 2.4
Key passes per game: 1.7
Man of the Match awards: 6
While these numbers don’t tell the full story of his influence, they underline how critical he has been to Manchester United’s midfield balance.
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🌍 International Recognition
Following his explosive rise, it came as no surprise when England boss Gareth Southgate called him up for the Euro 2024 squad. Despite his young age, Mainoo featured prominently in the tournament and even started in key knockout games.
Now, heading into the 2025 Nations League and World Cup qualifiers, Kobbie Mainoo is expected to be a regular starter for the Three Lions — a meteoric rise by any measure.
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🔴 Manchester United’s Crown Jewel
For Manchester United, Mainoo represents the ideal modern academy success story. A homegrown product, full of technical ability, tactical intelligence, and that ever-valuable “United DNA.”
His impact was so great that by the end of the season, he was being hailed as the team’s Player of the Year, beating out the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Rasmus Højlund, and Lisandro Martínez.
> “This club needed someone like him — someone to believe in again,” said United legend Paul Scholes. “He reminds me of a young me — but better!”
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💬 Reactions from Fans and Teammates
The fan reaction to De Bruyne’s comments has been euphoric. United fans flooded social media with praise:
“Even KDB knows what’s up. Mainoo is different gravy.”
“From unknown to being praised by the world’s best. What a story.”
“We need to protect him at all costs. Build the midfield around him.”
His teammates have also rallied around him, with Bruno Fernandes calling him “the engine” of United’s new era, and Marcus Rashford describing him as “the most talented young player I’ve played with.”
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🧨 What’s Next for Kobbie Mainoo?
If this past season is anything to go by, the sky is the limit.
With Manchester United set for a major rebuild under new co-owners and Erik ten Hag still in charge (at least for now), the club looks poised to make Mainoo a central part of its future plans. He’s already being offered a new long-term deal with improved terms, and there’s even talk of handing him the vice-captaincy.
Europe’s elite clubs — including Real Madrid and Bayern Munich — have reportedly been monitoring him, but United have no intention of letting him go.
> “Mainoo is untouchable,” a club insider revealed. “He is not for sale. Not at any price.”
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🏁 Final Thoughts: Praise From the Top
When a player like Kevin De Bruyne — widely regarded as the best Premier League midfielder of the last decade — takes time out to praise a rival youngster, you know something special is happening.
Kobbie Mainoo’s performances haven’t just impressed United fans — they’ve made the entire footballing world sit up and take notice.
As De Bruyne put it:
“He’s the future — and if he keeps going like this, the Premier League will have a serious star on its hands.”
🔴⚽️ What a player Manchester United have got.
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