The 19-year-old Mainoo broke onto the scene in the latter stages of the 2023\/24 season and was instrumental in their FA Cup victory. Ahead of their game against Spain in the final on Sunday, former Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has praised the young maestro stating he has the \u2018wow factor\u2019.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI've watched him closely and the first 30% of passes of the ball he gets in a game, in those opening minutes, he is happy just playing the ball short, five or 10 yards, waiting for the right moment for his natural raw ability to come out,\u201d read the column posted by Rio Ferdinand on BBC.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"Then, when the moment comes \u2013 and he knows exactly when \u2013 he can give you that little bit of 'wow' factor where he draws someone out, breaks the press, or when the opposition think, they are going to nick the ball off him. Those times when they have got him down a blind alley, but he somehow just comes out the end anyway and you are left going 'oh my god',\u201d he said in the column.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
England defeated the Netherlands in the semifinals of the tournament in yet another nail-biting finish. The Three Lions conceded the opening goal but equalised through a Harry Kane penalty just a few minutes later before Ollie Watkins scored the go-ahead goal in the 90th minute of the game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"Then, when the moment comes \u2013 and he knows exactly when \u2013 he can give you that little bit of 'wow' factor where he draws someone out, breaks the press, or when the opposition think, they are going to nick the ball off him. Those times when they have got him down a blind alley, but he somehow just comes out the end anyway and you are left going 'oh my god',\u201d he said in the column.<\/p>\r\n\r\n