Kobbie Mainoo has joined Harry Maguire in England’s senior squad (Picture: Getty)
Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo is desperate to be picked by England for Euro 2024 and has revealed his admiration for Brazil legend Ronaldinho.
The Three Lions face Brazil on Saturday in a friendly as they get ready for major tournament action this summer and Mainoo could be set for his first England cap.
The 18-year-old, who has broken in the Manchester United first team this term, wasn’t initially named in Gareth Southgate’s 25-man squad for the March fixtures.
But Southgate appeared to perform a U-turn on Tuesday, with Mainoo bumped up the senior squad from the U21s despite there being no dropouts or injuries.
Mainoo has been speaking to the media ahead of England’s match against Brazil and said: ‘It’s been a pretty mad couple of days. Getting down here and realising that I was with the first-team was amazing. I was shocked and happy – and it’s been a whirlwind of emotions.
‘But being at England is an amazing opportunity and I’m enjoying it so far. I think that’s the end goal for the season, to get into that squad [for the Euros].
‘It’d be an honour to be able to make the plane. I mean, there’s a lot of time in between now and then. But I think if I go back to my club and perform well and do what I need to do, then hopefully it’ll all align.
Kobbie Mainoo could be set for his first England cap vs Brazil (Picture: Getty)
‘Both [my] parents are Ghanaian and my whole childhood was football, really. It’s just been football, football, football and I’ve enjoyed every second of it.
‘I loved watching [Wayne] Rooney. Paul Scholes as well and King Eric [Cantona]. It was a bit before my time, but I still appreciate it.
‘Of course, as a kid you always dream of playing for England. But at the time I was just taking it game by game.
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‘I rang my family, rang my dad straightaway [after the call-up] and then rang my mum and my sisters too, and my brother. They’re all buzzing.
‘I don’t think it sunk in too quickly, like it did for me. But I got a few messages after it, after I rang them when it had sunk in. They were obviously excited.
‘Brazil is such an iconic team, and to play against them would be amazing. Ronaldinho played with a smile on his face, and he played freely, didn’t he? I think everyone loves Ronaldinho. How can you not?’
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