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7 months ago
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Former Man United striker Louis Saha has tipped a Manchester United youngster to become the club's next Paul Scholes.
Scholes is renowned as being one of the Premier League's greatest ever midfielders, with the 49-year-old winning 11 Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues during his glittering Old Trafford career.
He has earned the plaudits of some of the game's greats, with Zinedine Zidane once claiming he was one of the toughest opponents he ever came up against.
In recent times, United have struggled to live up to the same successes they enjoyed when Scholes was a part of their team between 1994 and 2013, with Erik ten Hag's side having endured a difficult season.
Yet, according to one of the midfielder's old team-mates, Louis Saha, the Red Devils can be buoyed by the progress of exceptional young talent, Kobbie Mainoo, with the Frenchman backing the 18-year-old to become United's next Scholes.
Ex-striker Louis Saha believes one young Man United star can become the next Paul Scholes
Scholes is renowned as being one of the greatest midfielders to grace the Premier League
The teenage sensation made his senior debut for England last month but also scored his first goal at Old Trafford on Sunday, during United's 2-2 draw against Liverpool.
Mainoo has continued to impress for the Red Devils and Saha hopes he can go on to emulate what his England team-mate Jude Bellingham has done at Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid.
'I hope Kobbie Mainoo can be Manchester United's next Jude bellingham! He's got the skills and the composure,' Saha said to PaddyPower.
'He's one of those players who has grown quicker than normal and he's showing real maturity at 18, especially considering he's playing in an unstable squad.
'Manchester United's form is all over the place and we saw it against Chelsea and against Liverpool. Having a player like Mainoo who can surprise the opposition with his calmness and out of nowhere, he's able to produce some magic so he has no ceiling.
'When you look at Jude Bellingham, he's a monster physically. I'm not saying that Kobbie isn't a beast physically, but in terms of height, speed and technical ability - where he matches him – this is where Bellingham is already ahead.
'He's managed to play a lot of games already, in Borussia Dortmund and now in Real Madrid but that's not the case with Kobbie. They have different styles because physically, Jude is a monster - he's just a freak. Everyone has to look at their own game.'
Saha said Kobbie Mainoo is the 'full package' and lauded the youngster for his performances
He likened Mainoo to his England team-mate Jude Bellingham but was not physically as strong
Saha believes Mainoo can emulate Scholes who he claims 'was not tall or quick'
Mainoo scored a sensational goal to help Man United secure a 2-2 victory against Liverpool
The ex-United striker added that 'Mainoo needs to find a way to be a bit more effective'
And while we may hope to see more of Bellingham and Mainoo playing together at the heart of England's midfield, Saha noted that while the Man United ace may not be as physically big as his England compatriot, he will be able to use his skillset, as Scholes once did, to 'run the show'.
'I remember one player who wasn't graced by God with their physique; he wasn't tall or quick and technically he was steady but nothing like Marcus Rashford or Cristiano Ronaldo, and that was Paul Scholes. He ran the show and every midfielder in the world would say that he was one of their favourite players.
'It's not just one or two qualities that Mainoo has, he's got the full package, but he has to find a way to be a bit more effective in some areas of his game, and not making the same mistakes. He'll definitely be one of Manchester United's greatest players if he finds the consistency.'
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