Kobbie Mainoo tried, and failed, to secure a move away from Manchester United before the transfer deadline after seemingly falling out of favour under manager Ruben Amorim
Ruben Amorim reacting on the touchline
Ruben Amorim's £50m decision has ensured a long-standing tradition has been upheld
(Image: Getty Images)
Manchester United have upheld a near century-old tradition after Ruben Amorim blocked Kobbie Mainoo's late push to leave the club.
The 20-year-old midfielder attempted to engineer an exit in the final week of the transfer window, frustrated at being left out of United's opening two Premier League fixtures. But his request was denied.
Worried about limited first-team minutes - and with the 2026 World Cup presumably on his mind - Mainoo had asked to leave on loan in search of game-time. He was also linked with a £50million permanent move to Napoli, though the Serie A side never followed up with a formal bid.
As a result, Mainoo remains in United's first-team squad, a role of particular significance given he is the only academy graduate currently in the group. For 88 consecutive years, the Red Devils have ensured that at least one homegrown player features in their senior setup.
During Sir Alex Ferguson's reign, academy products regularly formed a sizeable part of the squad. But in the decade or so since his departure, those numbers have steadily declined.
This summer alone, United lost three more graduates: Marcus Rashford joined Barcelona on loan, Alejandro Garnacho completed a move to Chelsea, and Jonny Evans hung up his boots. Had Mainoo left as well, the club's longstanding tradition of promoting from within would have come to an end.
Kobbie Mainoo
Kobbie Mainoo pushed for a loan exit this summer, but was told he couldn't leave
(Image: PA)
In truth, United may have simply kicked the can down the road. Mainoo's long-term future remains uncertain. His contract runs until 2027, but negotiations over fresh terms have stalled for months - sewing seeds of doubt and unrest in both camps.
Should talks continue to stall and Mainoo's playing time remain limited, United could be forced to consider selling, particularly before he enters the final year of his deal, when player valuations typically drop.
That said, Amorim has publicly stressed that Mainoo remains central to his plans, despite his cautious use of the youngster so far. "I want Kobbie to stay," he said ahead of United's 3-2 win over Burnley on Saturday.
"He needs to fight for his place. And we need Kobbie, so that is not going to change. I understand that the players that are not playing in this moment are disappointed. Everyone will have the same opportunity to play. You have to fight during the week."
Ruben Amorim and Kobbie Mainoo
Amorim hasn't shown an awful lot of faith in Mainoo in recent months
(Image: Getty Images)
Mainoo first broke into United's senior squad during the 2022/23 season and has since made 74 appearances, scoring seven goals. This term, however, he has featured only once in the Premier League.
Under Amorim, he has played in around two-thirds of the Portuguese's 46 matches in charge at Old Trafford, but has been named in the starting XI just 16 times. Injuries have played their part, but Amorim's preference for a two-man midfield has made competition fierce, with Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte all seemingly ahead of him in the pecking order.
Now, Mainoo faces a battle not only to secure his place in Amorim's side, but also his future at the club - with United's proud tradition and history, in part, hanging in the balance.
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