Madrid duo interested in Premier League prodigy; Tottenham should stay in the mix – Opinion

Mainoo was once celebrated by the supporters at M16 to be the crown jewel emerging from the academy at Carrington. A midfielder who could do almost everything. He looked composed on the ball, and for a 20-year-old, he found it child’s play to get through press in the Premier League. He also has that capacity to dictate the tempo from deep.

That being said, Amorim has brought in this tactical shift at United. The former Sporting Lisbon manager has this preference for playing a system which favours direct transitions, and suddenly the young midfielder was struggling for minutes. And this lack of game time could push him to look elsewhere. And while Real Madrid and Atletico are the names currently making waves with a possible move for him in Spain, Tottenham should absolutely be on the table in that conversation.

Why Mainoo fits Tottenham under Thomas Frank

We have seen that the incoming Dane head coach at the helm at Hotspur Way is building his midfield with players who are inventive and yet hard-working technicians. This is quite seen in the likes of Lucas Bergvall and Pape Matar Sarr, both of whom are this perfect blend of grind but with more tenacity. And Mainoo would be nearly perfect in those terms.

The England international is a combination of the defensive discipline of Joao Palhinha, but then he also has that technical balance which Tottenham desperately needs in the second phase. He does have that ability to carry the ball under the press and dictate play under pressure, which will add another layer of dynamism of sequences for the North Londoners. This can come in crucial in games where control is necessary. And we have seen Tottenham craving for exactly that at times this season. You can pick out those games against Wolves, Brighton and Bodo as an example of that.

And then lastly, Mainoo is only 20. He fits into the buy-them-young transfer policy that the Lilywhites have adopted of late. He can develop into one of the integral players at Hotspur Way in coming years.

Author Opinion

Both the Madrid clubs are interested, and they do boast that financial flex and silverware-winning prestige that can tempt Mainoo to move to Spain. But let’s be honest, neither of those two clubs can guarantee regular minutes at this stage. Real Madrid have this stacked midfield at the moment, while Atletico have this physical-demands-first policy, which may not suit Mainoo’s technical-first profile.

While at Tottenham under Frank, the path to regular minutes and his development is more clear. And if the Lilywhites are serious about sustaining this rebuild under the Dane, then Mainoo is the type of signing that bridges the gap between youth and elite players. He is also homegrown (given all the problems Spurs have had with the homegrown quota).

If the opportunity presents in 2026, Tottenham needs to act quickly.