Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has told Kobbie Mainoo to leave Old Trafford and join Alejandro Garnacho at Chelsea to save his career, which is going nowhere. Scholes thinks that the 20-year-old midfielder is being “ruined” by not getting enough playing time with manager Ruben Amorim. He needs to leave when the transfer window opens in January.
Mainoo hasn’t been able to break into the starting lineup this season because he can’t beat out club captain Bruno Fernandes for the midfield spots. The academy graduate, who reportedly asked to go on loan last summer but was turned down, is said to be “deeply frustrated” with his situation. This comes after spending most of the season on the bench when he could have been developing.
Scholes didn’t hold back when he talked about how United treated the England international on The Good, The Bad & The Football. The ex-midfielder told Mainoo to do what Garnacho did: move from Manchester to London just a few months ago in a big deal.Scholes said:
“We’re getting rid of players who love the football club, it’s mind-boggling. I get the Garnacho one because his attitude and behaviour was terrible but you don’t hear that about Kobbie. He’s a top, top, top player that we are f****ng up.
“Kobbie has got to go. If I’m looking after him I’m telling him ‘we’re getting you out of that football club.’”
Scholes also went on Instagram to vent his anger at Amorim’s recent comments, in which the United boss said he saw Mainoo as a starter despite rarely playing him:
“Bulls***. The kid is being ruined, not being played in a team that can’t control a game of football. Hate seeing home grown players leave but it’s probably best for him now, enough is enough.”
The United star said that it would be hard to see another academy star join a rival, but it is now necessary for Mainoo’s growth.
“For his football career he has to leave United, he’s lost 18 months of development. I hope he goes abroad because it’s embarrassing if he goes to Chelsea, which could happen.
“They might go and get him because they are putting together a very good, young squad and keep buying young players. He could quite easily end up at Chelsea next season.”
Chelsea would love to sign Kobbie Mainoo from Manchester United
Chelsea have long been interested in Mainoo and would reportedly look to secure a permanent deal if Manchester United made the midfielder available. Mainoo would probably prefer a loan move to get some playing time right away, but the Blues would rather have a permanent transfer to add another top young player to Enzo Maresca’s squad.
In recent years, the Blues have successfully stolen unhappy players from their “Big Six” rivals. Cole Palmer’s move from Manchester City is the best example of this. Palmer left the Etihad to get more playing time, and he quickly became a star in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge.
Garnacho has already made the switch, and frustrated forwards and midfielders could start to take the same route from Manchester to West London.