Ben Foster surprises fans by saying an unexpected Man Utd player should leave the club on deadline day
Former goalkeeper Ben Foster shared why he thinks Kobbie Mainoo would do well by going on loan from Manchester United—a view that’s getting a lot of attention online.
Mainoo was one of United’s best players last season under Michael Carrick and has already played in the first two Premier League games against Hull City and Ipswich Town. Carrick called his performance in the 5-2 win over Ipswich “immense” and praised the young English midfielder after the match.
“I thought he was fantastic today, Kobbie. It’s great to see him back home playing with such confidence,” said Carrick. “His performance today shows what he can do. We have a strong midfield, and we can use different players at different times. I was really happy with how he played.”
Mainoo, who won more possession than any other player recently, looks set to play a big part for United in the coming months. But Foster has a different opinion. He thinks Mainoo should go out on loan to reach his full potential and “become a leader” on the pitch.
“I love Kobbie. He’s the future, but he’s not quite there yet,” Foster said on his Threads account. “Be honest—you know he’s not going to be one of the first few names on the team sheet right now. If he spends a year on loan as the main player, relied upon every game, it would teach him things he won’t learn at Manchester United. He’ll learn what it takes to lead, and then he’ll be ready to shine for United.”
Some fans disagreed with Foster, saying a loan wouldn’t make sense and that young players sometimes have ups and downs, which is why teams need good squad depth. But Foster stood by his idea, saying a loan would help Mainoo grow.
“That’s the point of a loan—to give him a season to hold down a spot, and next season he’ll be ready,” he replied. “Loans are really important for improving players.”
On the Fozcast podcast, Foster said again that Mainoo could really flourish away from Old Trafford. “If he’s not playing much now, there are 15 Premier League clubs who would take him on loan and give him first-team football. He would go and do really well, honestly,” he said.