Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo has seen his stock fall lower and lower in the past month, after being given zero minutes so far in all competitions this season - and a failure to play against Grimsby Town on Wednesday evening could be the final nail in the coffin for his Old Trafford career.
Mainoo, who was the biggest-hyped talent to emerge from Carrington after Marcus Rashford, had a real rise to fame under Erik ten Hag with a goal in the FA Cup final just over a year ago, as well as being in the England team for EURO 2024. But his lack of minutes recently may spell the end and encourage him to embark on a new challenge away from home.
Report: Mainoo 'Wants' Man Utd Exit, Amorim Says He is Competing with Bruno Fernandes
mainoo manchester united
Reports on Tuesday stated that Mainoo 'wants to leave' United, after being squeezed out of the first-team picture by manager Ruben Amorim. The homegrown midfielder hasn't played a minute of their two Premier League games this season, and was demoted from first-choice midfielder to a bench player after returning from injury under Amorim last season.
United could look to accept a suitable deal for his services, though suitable clubs may be in slight demand at this stage in the transfer window, with the midfielder having his sights set on joining a club in the Champions League.
The youngster has seen his stock diminish massively over the last year, having started for England in the EURO 2024 final against Spain last summer, but his career has stalled under Amorim, who says that he is competing for a place with Bruno Fernandes, the club's captain.
There is no role for Mainoo in his 3-4-3 system, with the Portuguese tactician claiming that Mainoo doesn't have the attributes to be a first-choice player in central midfield, and he hasn't been impressed by his performances since. As such, if Mainoo doesn't play against Grimsby on Wednesday in the League Cup, that surely spells the end of his United career.
Mainoo Future Must be Over if he Doesn't Make Grimsby Appearance
Kobbie Mainoo during a Manchester United training session
Although the Mariners are unbeaten in League Two this season, sitting as the joint-top scorers, they only mustered a ninth-placed finish last season and Premier League giants in United should sweep them aside with ease.
The England star has been told he can complete a £60million move away from Old Trafford this summer, more than Grimsby have ever spent on transfers, and that gulf in quality is telling in itself.
Should Amorim opt to go with other midfielders such as Manuel Ugarte, Mason Mount or Casemiro in the middle of the park, or even other youngsters in the form of Jack Fletcher and Sekou Kone, it will push Mainoo closer to the exit door after promises that he is competing with Fernandes for minutes at the Theatre of Dreams.
With a chance to get their first win of the season on the board against Burnley at the weekend in the Premier League, the Red Devils then face two tough teams in local rivals Manchester City and money-laden Chelsea after the international break - and so players should really be rested to face Scott Parker's Clarets to avoid slipping up in what would be yet another poor start to a domestic campaign.
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