Favour has been found again under Carrick, with the ex-Red Devils midfielder having previously admitted to being a big fan. Carrick told former team-mate Rio Ferdinand in September 2025, when there was no way of telling that he would soon be calling the shots at Old Trafford: “For a club to have a player that's come through the academy and knows it, Man United's got to have an element of that. Always has done, always should do.
“To have a talent like that, as he's shown already, you've got to have players like that. They get it, they know it, let's build around them. There's definitely a place for him (Mainoo) there for sure.”
Quizzed on where he would fit Mainoo into his plans, with questions being asked of whether he is a No.6 or No.8, Carrick added: “He's more of an attacker. I don't see him as a holding midfielder. He's that line above where he needs a little bit more freedom.
“He can defend the higher line but I think that bit deeper, around the centre–backs, that's a bit of a different thing completely. I see him playing that little bit higher and creating. I think he's got a massive future. I really like him, he just needs that patience and a little bit of a break again.”