Why Kobbie Mainoo is refusing to use car park at Man Utd

Kobbie Mainoo is refusing to use the first-team car park at Manchester United, according to a fresh report.

Mainoo has had a “mad couple of days” having earned his first senior England call-up for friendlies against Brazil on Saturday and Belgium on 26 March at Wembley, just days after starring in Manchester United’s dramatic 4-3 FA Cup victory over Liverpool.

The 18-year-old told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I was shocked and happy [to receive a call up].

"It's been a whirlwind of emotions, a pretty mad couple of days."

Mainoo, who has been in the United academy since he was seven, only made his first Premier League start in November but has since become a regular under Erik ten Hag.

He even went on a balletic run to score a dramatic 97th-minute winner in a 4-3 win at Wolves last month.

While the youngster continues to make an impression for club and country, he appears to be keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

The Manchester Evening News claimed the youngster continues to use the main car park at Carrington rather than parking his car in the first-team car park so as to not get carried away with his success. Meanwhile, the teenager still lives with his parents.

United boss Erik ten Hag is said to be copying a tactic previously used by Sir Alex Ferguson on a young Ryan Giggs in the Nineties, by withholding Mainoo from the club’s media duties.

Mainoo received his first England call up this week (Getty)

Ten Hag did the same thing for Alejandro Garnacho, who only completed his first external interview this season, while Ferguson employed the same tactic with Giggs in his first few years in the United first-team.

"I had to adapt quickly to the Premier League. Obviously, it's very demanding physically, and also mentally, so it's been tough," Mainoo said.

"But I feel like I've found my feet a bit now and I'm enjoying it.

"The games have been coming so fast at United but now I'm here [with England], obviously I am taking it all in and it's been amazing."

Topics: Manchester United, Kobbie Mainoo, England, FA Cup, Premier League, Erik Ten Hag, Ryan Giggs

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.