Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has offered some advice to Kobbie Mainoo, declaring that regular playing time must be the main factor when considering his future. Mainoo has re-established himself in the United starting XI under Michael Carrick. The midfielder had seen chances restricted under previous manager Ruben Amorim, throwing doubt on his United career.

Mainoo had allegedly sought a loan away from the club during the summer transfer window in search of more consistent football, a request which United turned down. A move to Napoli almost occurred in January, until Amorim was sacked and replaced by Carrick. The 21-year-old will have just 12 months remaining on his Old Trafford contract when the summer window opens. However, he looks set to pen a lucrative new deal at the club.

Like Mainoo, Pogba came through the academy at Old Trafford, but left in 2012 in pursuit of regular first-team opportunities. He returned to the club in 2016 before departing once again six years later.

When asked by Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast what guidance he'd give Mainoo, Pogba appeared to hint that he should leave the club. "He played and he's such a talented, such a talented kid. He's still young," he said.

"It's difficult. It's really difficult. It's the way how he feels. If he feels that, if he's good with the manager, if the manager really trusts him, because he's going to have all the clubs behind him, this is for sure.

"But I don't know about his contract, because if he will be a free agent, it will be a different story, I think.

'But, you know, a kid like this, you know, that thinks that he can play and other people think that he can play, his managers pushing him, telling him, you can play in this team, why you don't play. That also put this in this kid and he's like, yeah, I should leave.

"Maybe it's not the right decision. And it's really hard for me to say he should leave when he's so loved by the people at United. He's such a great player, a big potential and he can do a great career at Manchester United also.

"So, I don't know, but I just wish him the best. I don't know, whatever decision he's going to take. I just want to see this kid play because it's enjoyable to see him play."

Since departing United, football has been anything but simple for Pogba. The midfielder was hit with an 18-month ban after a doping breach. Following his return, he joined French side Monaco last summer, though has recorded merely four appearances in Ligue 1 this campaign at the age of 33.