Anthony Elanga names Man Utd’s ‘next big academy star’ and makes Paul Pogba comparison

Anthony Elanga has said Kobbie Mainoo is Manchester United’s ‘next big academy star’ and has claimed the midfielder has similar characteristics to Paul Pogba.

The youngster hasn’t featured this season due to injury, and despite being just 18 years old, Mainoo is expected to play a significant role this term. The academy graduate played in the first four senior friendlies over the summer prior to his injury, proving how highly rated he is by manager Erik ten Hag.

Elanga, who left United for Nottingham Forest over the summer, thinks his former team-mate is going to become a ‘top player’ in the coming years. “Kobbie Mainoo [is the next big academy star],” the Sweden international told the Daily Mail. “He is one of my close guys that I still speak to at United and I believe he is next the top one, his talent is unreal.

“He has got everything and I just hope United can look after him really well and let him flourish. He is a top player. When I played with him in the academy I always thought he had similar attributes to Paul Pogba. They are not the same player but just the way he moves and they can both do everything, defensive, offensive, he has a mixture of everything and is really good on and off the ball.”

Like Mainoo, Elanga came through the youth ranks at United and is adapting to a new club after seven years on the Red Devils’ books. The winger said he does not regret his choice to leave one of the country’s biggest clubs and sign for a side who could battle against relegation this term.

“When I make a decision I stick by it. I have not regretted that decision one bit,’ he said. "My senior time at United was short, two years of valuable learning, ups and downs and I take that experience and bring it here.

“I learnt a lot from them and take that experience of what they did on and off the pitch and try to bring it here and apply it to my game.

“I have learnt from arguably the best player in the world: Cristiano Ronaldo, I have learnt from Bruno Fernandes, Raphael Varane, Casemiro, I can go through the whole team because they are all world-class players not just what they do on the pitch but off the pitch as well with their discipline and how they look after themselves.”