Kobbie Mainoo has been the name on everyone’s lips during the international break, and Confidential understands that Manchester United’s teen star could mark the latest stage of his meteoric rise by signing a sponsorship deal with Nando’s.

Even the ultra professional Mainoo tucks into the signature peri-peri chicken dish as a treat when he fancies a change from his favourite meal of rice and peas, and discussions are said to have taken place with the restaurant chain over an endorsement deal.

Nando’s won’t be the only sponsors wanting to get on board with Mainoo after the 18-year-old midfielder made his senior England debut off the bench against Brazil on Saturday and is pushing for a first start against Belgium on Tuesday night.

Mainoo’s breakthrough season at United will inevitably lead to a lucrative new contract in the summer, although formal discussions have yet to take place between the club and his representatives.

The clauses built into Mainoo’s current deal mean that his progress this season has been rewarded, and United are relaxed about securing the future of a homegrown player who is under contract until 2027.

Kobbie Mainoo has enjoyed a meteoric rise in his first season at Manchester United

Kobbie Mainoo has enjoyed a meteoric rise in his first season at Manchester United

Kobbie Mainoo has enjoyed a meteoric rise in his first season at Manchester United 

Bukayo Saka launched his own peri-peri sauce at Nando's earlier this month

Bukayo Saka launched his own peri-peri sauce at Nando's earlier this month

Bukayo Saka launched his own peri-peri sauce at Nando’s earlier this month 

Tyrell targets next season

Tyrell Malacia’s difficult recovery from a double knee surgery means the United defender is unlikely to make his comeback before the end of the season.

However, Confidential understands that reports in Germany over the weekend claiming Malacia’s problems to be as much mental as physical are somewhat wide of the mark.

While Malacia has had to overcome the psychological challenges typically involved in any long-term rehab, the injury itself and several setbacks in his recovery are the reason he has not played at all this season.

The 24-year-old left-back, who became Erik ten Hag’s first signing after joining United from Feyenoord for £14.7million in the summer of 2022, has had problems with a damaged cartilage meniscus in his knee.

Malacia has spent some time at home in the Netherlands after surgery, but he has been working on his recovery at Carrington and is focussed on getting fit for the start of next season.

Although Ten Hag expressed his frustration earlier this month that Malacia had not returned to action in January as expected, it’s understood United are comfortable with the care he has received from the club’s medical department and accept that it has been a complicated injury and rehab.

Ten Hag’s problems have been compounded by another long-term injury to Luke Shaw, leaving him without a recognised left-back after Sergio Reguilon’s loan was cut short in January.

Tyrrell Malacia has not played at all this season because of a serious knee injury

Tyrrell Malacia has not played at all this season because of a serious knee injury

Tyrrell Malacia has not played at all this season because of a serious knee injury

Red Army take aim at MUST

The Red Army, the group behind the atmosphere section of Old Trafford, have again clashed with the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust over the future of the club’s historic ground.

MUST recently launched a survey to gauge the priorities of supporters by asking them what they feel are important features or considerations in any new or redeveloped stadium.

But TRA took exception to the consultation, warning the fact it went out to ‘all and sundry’ meant ‘your view as a red who’s got a genuine, emotional and spiritual attachment to Old Trafford, could be judged as having equal weight as someone living thousands of miles away whose only attachment to our club is they watch United in their bedroom once a week’.

Though TRA claimed it was not an attack on MUST, the group felt compelled to respond. ‘It is worth reiterating that the Old Trafford taskforce will have a remit much wider than those of special interest to match going fans,’ MUST said in an email to members.

The Red Army, the group behind the atmosphere section of Old Trafford, have again clashed with the Manchester United Supporters’ Trus

The Red Army, the group behind the atmosphere section of Old Trafford, have again clashed with the Manchester United Supporters’ Trus

The Red Army, the group behind the atmosphere section of Old Trafford, have again clashed with the Manchester United Supporters’ Trus

Antony’s island bootcamp

Left out of the Brazil squad for games against England and Spain, Antony refused to rest on his laurels this international break as he looks to build on his game-changing impact against Liverpool.

The £85.5m winger scored a key goal en route to helping United reach the FA Cup semi-finals with a 4-3 win over Liverpool at Old Trafford. But rather than sulk at being snubbed by the national team, the 24-year-old headed to Madeira to get his sweat on at the Fisio Clinic.

The clinic vows to help take athletes to ‘new heights of performance’. Given his sub-par season to date, Antony will hope his gruelling strength and conditioning sessions with trainer Joao Pedro Silva will pay off – starting this weekend away to Brentford.

Antony is looking to build on his goal-scoring came against Liverpool (above)

Antony is looking to build on his goal-scoring came against Liverpool (above)

Antony is looking to build on his goal-scoring came against Liverpool (above)

Cup date wrongfoots fans

United fans have been left bemused by the decision to schedule the FA Cup semi-final against Coventry on Sunday, April 21.

Dozens of supporters have been forced to change trains and flights after expecting the game at Wembley to take place on the Saturday.

Sources say the club had presumed it would be Saturday, given Coventry are down to play Hull on the following Tuesday. Manchester City are also in action in the Champions League the preceding Wednesday and it was thought they might be put on the Sunday to give them extra rest.

United had accidentally caused confusion among fans as their email advising season-ticket holders of the sales process for the semi-final, sent just hours after the victory over Liverpool, stated the game would be held on the Saturday, though it stressed the date was not confirmed.

The clash with Coventry will kick-off at 3.30pm instead 4pm after the Metropolitan Police deemed it to be a high-risk fixture, which has raised eyebrows.

Wembley will host United's FA Cup semi-final against Coventry on Sunday, April 21

Wembley will host United's FA Cup semi-final against Coventry on Sunday, April 21

Wembley will host United’s FA Cup semi-final against Coventry on Sunday, April 21

Jonny could play on

Reports of Jonny Evans’ impending retirement may prove to be greatly exaggerated.

Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill dismissed the latest speculation on social media ahead of his team’s game against Scotland at Hampden Park on Tuesday night, and United sources have also cast doubt over the prospect of Evans calling it a day at the end of the season when he will be halfway towards his 37th birthday.

Whether the veteran defender will get a contract extension at United or have to look for a new club remains to be seen.

Evans earned a one-year deal when he returned to Old Trafford on a short-term basis last summer, but a new 12-month offer will be dependent on new signings and United’s other centre-backs.

Jonny Evans could extend his career by another 12 months after impressing this term

Jonny Evans could extend his career by another 12 months after impressing this term

Jonny Evans could extend his career by another 12 months after impressing this term

Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof could be allowed to leave in the summer, and there are no guarantees over Harry Maguire’s future despite his renaissance this season.

Although Evans is recovering from recurrence of a calf injury before the FA Cup win over Liverpool, he has justified United’s decision to bring him back by making 24 appearances this campaign.

The club posted a clip from a TNT Sports video on Tuesday morning of Rio Ferdinand chatting with Evans and technical director Darren Fletcher in the gym at Carrington. ‘You look in better shape now than you did when you were here before,’ Ferdinand told Evans, having last played together a decade ago.

Fans face Brentford chaos

United fans travelling to Brentford by train on Saturday face huge travel disruption due to planned engineering work.

The fixture at the Gtech Community Stadium will kick off at 8pm on March 30, just two minutes before the last service from London St Pancras International to Manchester Piccadilly is due to depart.

Meanwhile, no trains will run to and from London Euston station over Easter while Network Rail carry out improvement work, meaning there will be no direct trains to Manchester on Sunday.

It is the fourth time this season United have had a game moved to 8pm on a Saturday – the most of any team in the Premier League – and all of them have been away from home following visits to Newcastle, Sheffield United and Burnley.

Academy lounge celebrates stars

There was plenty of pride at Carrington this week upon the opening of The Graduate Lounge.

The new space, which will be open to parents of families of players at the academy, is a celebration of all those who have gone on to graduate to the first team.

One wall features an 11-player mural including the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford, as well as Sir Bobby Charlton and George Best.

Another wall features all 249 academy graduates to the first team, with a framed picture of Omari Forson on the wall as the teenager was No.249 when he started in the defeat to Fulham.

The facility offers food and drinks to families as they shelter away from the largely unpredictable Mancunian weather.

Scanlon makes Gibraltar bow

Spreaking of the academy, there was more than just smiles for Kobbie Mainoo and his international debut this week.

Staff at the club were left bursting with pride to see 17-year-old James Scanlon win his senior debut for Gibraltar against Lithuania – the first United player to represent the nation – while Gabriele Biancheri, 17, scored the winner for Wales Under-19s against Belgium.

United’s academy lead Nick Cox is eager to push young players up into higher age groups in a bid to test them in more uncomfortable environments, and that is continuing to reap awards with the rapid development of teenagers like Scanlon, Biancheri and Bendito Mandato, the 16-year-old mentioned in last week’s Confidential.

James Scanlon made his senior debut for Gibraltar against Lithuania on Thursday

James Scanlon made his senior debut for Gibraltar against Lithuania on Thursday

James Scanlon made his senior debut for Gibraltar against Lithuania on Thursday

Becks contracts up for grabs

International breaks are as good a time as any to scout around for precious pieces of merchandise, and there is one lot selling soon which could peak interest for United fans.

At an auction house in Norfolk, a collection of six David Beckham contracts – starting with his first contract with United as a 15-year-old junior in 1991 – are going up for sale.

The collection includes improved contracts in 1993-1997, 1995-1999, 1996-2001, 1998-2003 and 2002-2005 – all of which are signed by Beckham and all relevant agents and parties.

Beckham has won a legion of fans across the globe from spells with Real Madrid, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and LA Galaxy after leaving United, and the chance to capture a piece of his career is not an opportunity that comes around often.

The lot, which comes with FA and Premier League endorsements of registration, is to be sold on April 9 at 10am in Fakenham, Norfolk, with auctioneer estimates predicting a sale between £7,000 to £10,000.

If you want in, find out more here – https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/james-and-son-auctioneers/catalogue-id-srjam10220/lot-ce267647-29fb-4431-97f7-b12b00c27a16?queryId=116971dc7b125ba9ad22303d443d941f

Fanzines in the spotlight

United’s fanzines received some long overdue recognition by the club in the form of an official documentary.

The latest instalment of United’s One Love series, For the Love of the Game charts the history of Red News and United We Stand – United’s two remaining fanzines – along with Barmy Article, the first fanzine entirely dedicated to a women’s team.

The 20-minute film features interviews with all three fanzine editors and sellers, delving into a variety of topics from fan culture, United’s status in the community and the ever-increasing reactionary nature of the football discourse in the modern era of knee-jerk reactions on social media platforms.

The documentary marks a significant change of direction by the club, which has often given the publications the cold shoulder.

While Jose Mourinho and Ed Woodward were both interviewed by UWS, United have been notoriously reluctant to recognise fanzines – which have both been regularly scathing of the Glazers’ ownership.

City pile pressure on Skinner

Marc Skinner remains under pressure as United women’s team boss after last weekend’s 3-1 derby defeat at Manchester City. United have never finished below fourth in the WSL table but Liverpool’s draw with Everton saw them slip to fifth.

They now trail leaders Chelsea and City by 15 points and are nine points adrift of the European places. Their FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea on April 13 is now their last remaining hope of salvaging what has been an extremely disappointing season.

This is the club’s lowest points total from 17 games in the WSL. They currently have 1.65 points per game – only in the curtailed 2019-2020 season, their first in the WSL, did they manage less.

Skinner, who is out of contract at the end of the season, seemed irked by questions about pressure after Saturday’s game, stating: ‘There are some very good writers in the room and I’m sure you utilise the Man United brand to benefit.’

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