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Champions League duo 'interest' in Kobbie Mainoo speaks volumes amid Man United uncertainty

The latest Manchester United transfer news and speculation has seen Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid linked with Kobbie Mainoo

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are said to be keeping an eye on developments involving Kobbie Mainoo's Manchester United future.

Real Madrid and fierce rival Atletico Madrid are said to be among the European heavyweights keeping an eye on Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo amid ongoing uncertainty around his future at Old Trafford.

That's according to Mike Keegan of the Daily Mail, who claims the La Liga giants have joined the list of Premier League clubs weighing up a move for the United academy graduate.

The report claims a season-long loan would interest both Spanish clubs, with the England international struggling for game time under Ruben Amorim.

Mainoo's future at Old Trafford is uncertain despite having two-years remaining on his current deal, with the club having the option of another year. However, the 20-year-old rejected the terms of a new deal back in January, meaning he's on the same deal which he signed as a 17-year-old breaking into the United set-up.

Chelsea were linked with a swoop for the highly rated midfielder, but he'd remain at Old Trafford for the remainder of the campaign. Things haven't improved in terms of regular gametime for Mainoo since the start of the current campaign and is well down Amorim's pecking order.

The Stockport-born star has not been able to nail down a spot in the starting XI after returning from injury back in December and the report claims he wants regular first team football.

It's unlikely that United will allow the midfielder to leave on loan given their lack of options in central midfield and the club are reportedly set to make a decision in the next 48 hours regarding his future.

Mainoo's lack of first-team minutes has baffled United supporters on the whole, especially given the club's struggles last season. His impressive breakthrough campaign saw him start the European Championship final for England against Spain last summer, but has not been able to nail down a spot in Amorim's 3-4-3 system.

Had you told United supporters that Mainoo would no longer be considered untouchable on the back of last summer, very few would have believed you. The fact that both Real and Ateltico Madrid are keeping tabs on the midfielder tells you everything you need to know about the quality he possesses and the United boss MUST find a way of incorporating him in the XI.

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