Gary Lineker told Alan Shearer and Micah Richards that he is deeply puzzled by the approach that Ruben Amorim is taking with one first-team Manchester United star.
The 64-year-old former Match of the Day host and presenter expressed his aforementioned sentiments after Manchester United’s defeat to Manchester City.
Manchester City hosted United at the Etihad on the first Premier League weekend since the end of the international break, with the Red Devils losing 3-0 on the day.
Pep Guardiola finally saw his City side return to winning ways on Sunday afternoon against United, following on from back-to-back Premier League defeats this season.
City took the lead in the first half through Phil Foden before Erling Haaland tormented United in the second half by scoring a sensational brace at the Etihad.
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Former England and Barcelona striker Gary Lineker talks on DAZN ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup final match between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain at the MetLife Stadium in 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Photo by Michael Regan – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Gary Lineker singles out Kobbie Mainoo under Ruben Amorim after Man Utd’s 3-0 Premier League defeat to Man City
Kobbie Mainoo found himself on the bench again under Ruben Amorim for Manchester United’s first Manchester derby of the 2025-26 Premier League season.
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The 20-year-old United midfielder has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford and Kobbie Mainoo has not started a single Premier League match this season.
Mainoo’s future at United has been plunged into uncertainty after struggling for regular United first-team minutes in the 2025-26 campaign under Amorim.
United denied a summer exit for Mainoo after the England star asked for a loan move away from Old Trafford, with the Red Devils wanting him to fight for his place.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Gary Lineker could not hide concerns over United manager Amorim and his handling of the Three Lions international.
“I mean, I just… [what] really worries me is the way Kobbie Mainoo has been kind of almost dismissed,” he told Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.
“I mean, that’s such an incredibly young talent, local boy as well, doing really well.”
READ MORE: Gary Neville thinks experienced Man Utd star vs Man City had ‘one of the worst’ matches he has ever ‘seen him have’
Gary Lineker reacts to Kobbie Mainoo’s Man Utd performance against Man City in the Premier League match at the Etihad
Kobbie Mainoo appeared on United fans’ radar after he came off the bench in the second half and impressed with his cameo performance against City on Sunday.
Amorim turned to the Stockport-born midfielder after he subbed off Noussair Mazraoui in the 62nd minute, with Mainoo showing his real quality in his display.
Lineker rated Mainoo’s second-half cameo at the Etihad and The Rest Is Football co-host has admitted that he is ‘baffled’ by the situation around the England international under Amorim.
“I mean, I thought actually when he came on, he did really quite well,” he continued.
“I don’t get it. I don’t know whether there’s something that we don’t know about or anything like that, but it’s slightly baffling to me.”
Mainoo has only played three times for United across all competitions this season and the Red Devils talent has not started a single Premier League match so far.