Casemiro's warning to Mainoo as he says he is the 'present and future' of Man Utd

Casemiro warned that Kobbie Mainoo needs to be "pushed" but he is the "present and the future" of Manchester United.

Veteran Brazil international Casemiro, who is leaving Old Trafford at the end of the season, said he had spoken to 21-year-old Mainoo about giving his all in training.

He also feels that "fear" of whether or not he would play, has seen Mainoo work harder and deliver his best.

Mainoo has recent experience of not being in the team after he was frozen out by former manager Ruben Amorim – at one point it even appeared his future may lie elsewhere – and Casemiro said he needed to remember that period.

Casemiro also said that Mainoo's role is an attacking midfielder in a no.8 role and not as a no.5 where he would be deeper and more defensive.

Mainoo has come to the fore in the past few months playing in a more attacking position alongside Casemiro in midfield and behind Bruno Fernandes.

"This guy is the present and the future, he is an unbelievable player, he is a no.8, he is not a no.5, but with the ball he is unbelievable," said Casemiro

"He loves the ball, he likes the ball, he needs the ball, he is comfortable with it and never loses it. He is strong, he has quality but he needs to be pushed every game."

And Casemiro repeated: “I try every day about this with Kobbie. Kobbie is an unbelievable player but he needs to train, train, train.

“He needs fear: ‘I play, I don’t play’. In this moment he doesn’t play too much and I talked to him: maybe it’s the first time he doesn’t play, but it’s not the last.

“You don’t need to drop the training. You don’t need to drop your head. You need change. How? Work. Work. Work. Talk with the manager what you need to change about this.”

Casemiro, 34, has enjoyed a renaissance this season and he has been a fundamental reason for United's strong second half to the season.

While a defensive player he has also got forward and scored crucial goals, to the extent he has made a mockery of Jamie Carragher who wrote him off.

It is two years since former Liverpool defender and now Sky television pundit said the Brazilian should “leave football before the football leaves you”.

Casemiro said: “It’s your opinion. I respect your opinion. I don’t like it because it’s disrespectful to me.”