Manchester United ace Kobbie Mainoo names Lionel Messi's ex-Barcelona teammate and Real Madrid star as his favorite players to watch

Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo, who has risen through the ranks to become one of the most important players for his club, recently mentioned Sergio Busquets and Luka Modric to be among his favorite players. Busquets and Modric, who played for Barcelona and Real Madrid in LaLiga, respectively, are arguably two of the best midfielders to grace the game.

Mainoo has also spoken highly about Yaya Toure and Clarence Seedorf, according to British GQ (via Utd District).

“I like to watch Busquets, the way he used to turn. Players like Seedorf, Modric. Players like Yaya Touré – I like the way he used to play. I don’t think about it too much. It’s more an in-the-moment type of thing. Like if I check, I see a guy here, then I’ll turn this way. Or if I don’t have to do that, I can just bounce out. I don’t think, like, I’m gonna turn here… it’s more that if the defender gives me an option, then I’m gonna take it,” said Mainoo.

Busquets and Toure played alongside Lionel Messi at Barcelona, while Modric and Seedorf are legends in their own right at Real Madrid.

Busquets, meanwhile, still plays alongside Messi at Inter Miami CF after having made 722 appearances for Barcelona. Modric is still plying his trade for Madrid, while Toure and Seedorf are happily retired.

Mainoo, meanwhile, is a star in the making. In the 574 minutes he has played in the Premier League this season, the 19-year-old has impressed all and sundry with his dominating performances in the center of the park. He is currently ruled out of action with a muscle injury. Mainoo is expected to be back in action for United by late November.

In the 44 appearances he has made for the club's senior team, he has found the back of the net on five occasions.

Manchester United have the likes of Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte, and Christian Eriksen to man their midfield, but Mainoo's presence has given them fresh legs and a new lens to deal with.

Kobe Mainoo was also liked by former England manager Gareth Southgate, who gave him 10 caps for the Three Lions.

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Sergio Busquets, Yaya Toure and Lionel Messi were teammates at Barcelona

Busquets, Toure and Messi were teammates at Barcelona and spent many a happy season there. However, Messi left the club in 2021 to join Paris Saint-Germai,n while Busquets went to Inter Miami in the MLS in the 2023 summer transfer window. Toure, meanwhile, left Barcelona for Manchester City in 2010.

Modric mans the central midfield for Real Madrid quite well despite having turned 39 earlier this year. He has made 551 appearances for Madrid so far and found the back of the net on 39 occasions.

Seedorf, meanwhile, was renowned for winning the UEFA Champions League with three clubs - Ajax, Real Madrid, and AC Milan.