Manchester United stance on Man City interest in youngster Kobbie Mainoo

Manchester United are relaxed about Manchester City's long-standing interest in youngster Kobbie Mainoo.

Mainoo joined the club's academy aged nine and he went to both United and City's academies when he was a child.

The Manchester Evening News understands Mainoo chose to join United's academy and although City have attempted to lure him away at ages when it would have been possible, he's chosen to stay each time.

Fresh reports emerged detailing City's interest in Mainoo on Friday afternoon but their admiration of him is nothing new.

ALSO READ: Some United players starting to doubt Ten Hag

ALSO READ: United are morphing into their David Moyes tweet

The MEN revealed in July that Mainoo had been informed he'd play a part in the first-team squad instead of being sent on loan and he subsequently became the breakout star of the summer's pre-season tour of the United States.

Mainoo recently signed a new long-term contract until the summer of 2027 and he's been named in the first-team squad to play Fulham on Saturday.

Erik ten Hag said of Mainoo before the Manchester derby: "Still a way to go, but he's ready for a part of the game. That's good news because he's a midfielder player and we can use his capabilities, his physicality, his taking of the ball and he's brave.

"All of his abilities and skills, he can contribute to the team."

Mainoo was handed his first-team debut against Charlton in the Carabao Cup on January 10 and he made his Premier League debut just a few weeks later when making an appearance from the bench against Leicester.

There was loan interest in Mainoo from top-end League One sides in the January transfer window but United turned it down.