Wayne Rooney predicts Man United star will score Euro 2024 final winner for England vs Spain

Wayne Rooney has made a bold prediction about Manchester United's midfield prodigy, Kobbie Mainoo, hinting at a standout performance in the upcoming Euro 2024 final against Spain on Sunday.

Kobbie Mainoo, despite being just 19 and relatively new to the England setup, with his debut only dating back to March, has rapidly secured a starting role. Yet to open his account for the Three Lions, Mainoo isn't a stranger to big-game moments; he found the net during Manchester United's FA Cup final triumph over Manchester City last May.

Rooney himself broke onto the Euro stage as a teenager and understands the limelight, though his record was surpassed by Johan Vonlanthen in 2004 and more recently by Spain's sensation Lamine Yamal. Despite Mainoo having been born after Rooney's Euro bow, he has quickly become a talking point as England brace for the clash with Spain.

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Sharing his insights with The Times, Rooney expressed his instinct about the young midfielder: "I just have a feeling about Mainoo," he said. "That he is going to score and prove decisive."

He continued: "If you think of him in the tournament, he has got into good positions going forward and I think Spain will do their homework and close off space for Harry Kane, Foden, Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham. But that will leave space for a midfielder arriving late, and that Mainoo will get one from a cut-back."

Praising Gareth Southgate's decision to integrate Mainoo and drawing parallels to his impact in the domestic cup final, Rooney added, "It was Mainoo who did