FA Cup winner Kobbie Mainoo has been learning Spanish since last summer at Manchester United as a keen linguist.
Mainoo has enjoyed an exceptional campaign at United this season, catapulting himself onto the world stage with his marvelous winner against Wolves in February.
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His performances earned the 19-year-old a place in Gareth Southgate’s provisional 33-man England squad ahead of Euro 2024.
And his superb campaign for United ended with the winner’s ultimate goal in the FA Cup final against rivals Manchester City.
While the England international may have no reason to learn another language, the midfielder revealed he has been learning Spanish for the past year.
The youngster was sidelined due to injury in pre-season and decided to take up lingo as a hobby.
Speaking to the Telegraph, Mainoo said: “I started Spanish lessons on Zoom just to pass the time a bit.
“It’s hard to continue doing them now, with such a busy schedule. Now that summer is here, I’m going to try to start again because I enjoyed it.”
Mainoo may already be one of United’s key players in midfield, adding energy and dynamism that was sorely lacking with Christian Eriksen and Casemiro coming to the end of their careers.
But the teenager isn’t the only youngster making an impression under Erik ten Hag, with Alejandro Garnacho – United’s other scorer against City at Wembley – also one of the first names on the team sheet. team.
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The 19-year-old, who has ten goals and five assists in 51 appearances this season, has joined the academy with Mainoo, who is keen to chat with the Madrid starlet.
And that includes discussing goal celebrations before kick-off, leading to a brilliant moment this season for the Red Devils that saw Garnacho, Mainoo and Rasmus Hojlund celebrate together on the advertising boards against West Ham in February at Old Trafford .
Mainoo added: “I always ask Garna(cho) before the match what the celebration will be if he scores and he said he won’t tell me.
“He said to me, ‘I’m not telling you! I’m not telling you!’ So I’m like, ‘Okay.’
“But I saw him jump on the billboard when he scored and Rasmus and I jumped up there with him. It was a great photo.
“All of us young guys – Amad (Diallo) as well – we have a lot of fun together and we’ve definitely become close this season.”
United will be banking even more on their youth duo next season after demonstrating their skills this year.
There is plenty of unrest at the club, including speculation over Ten Hag’s job, but the Red Devils put that aside to win the FA Cup on Saturday.
And they can thank Mainoo and Garnacho after their 2-1 win over City.
The duo created FA Cup history without a final before seeing two teenagers get on the scoresheet.
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