He made an immediate impact with a combative display but the game was already lost.placeholder image
He made an immediate impact with a combative display but the game was already lost. | AFP via Getty Images
Man City are reportedly interested in signing Man United star midfielder Kobbie Mainoo.
Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo’s future has been plunged into doubt this season as Ruben Amorim hasn’t been starting the young midfielder. Because of his lack of minutes, Mainoo asked to leave United on loan in the summer, but the club decided against letting him depart.
The best solution for United would now be more regular game time, but it hasn’t come yet, and Amorim still seems reluctant to start the 20-year-old, despite his side’s clear lack of quality in midfield alongside Bruno Fernandes.
It emerged this week that rivals Manchester City were considering a shock move for Mainoo should the midfielder still want to leave come the January transfer window. However, there is not yet any indication from United on whether they would consider selling Mainoo to their Manchester rivals.
Man United should ‘laugh off’ Man City interest in Mainoo
Amid the recent interest in Mainoo from Manchester City, United should consider doing to City, what they like to do to their rivals in the transfer market. It is well documented that Man City don’t sell to rivals in the transfer window, and this was exemplified in the summer of 2024.
Reported by The Telegraph earlier this month, it was revealed Man City rejected a swap deal with Liverpool in 2024, which would have seen Luiz Diaz move to the Etihad and Julian Alvarez move to Anfield. It was reportedly rejected due to the fact that City said to Liverpool they ‘don’t sell to rivals’ in the Premier League. Alvarez later joined Atletico Madrid instead.
United should take a leaf out of City’s book with their interest in Mainoo, and laugh off any potential deal by telling Pep Guardiola that there is no way they will sell to their Manchester rivals, and especially not one of their most promising young players, who is still expected to become a star in the future.
What has Amorim said about Mainoo’s future at Man United?
The Man United boss hasn’t been giving Mainoo the regular game time at Old Trafford, but it does seem that Amorim is keen for the English midfielder to stay at United, and fight for his place in the starting XI.
Amorim said last month: “I want Kobbie to stay. 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."
It seems as though Amorim’s current position on Mainoo is that he is not deserving of a starting XI place, compared to both Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro, who have both started ahead of Mainoo in the Premier League so far this season.
However, United’s lacklustre midfield has been exposed, especially in the 3-0 Man City defeat, so it surely won’t be long before Mainoo starts for Amorim in the Premier League.
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