Would it be hyperbole to suggest that Kobbie Mainoo provided the best, or most significant, moment at Manchester United in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era?
Faced with an imperious Manchester City side in the 2024 FA Cup final, Erik ten Hag's men defied the odds to claim a richly deserved 2-1 win, a year on from having tamely been defeated by their neighbours en route to treble glory.
kobbie-mainoo-man-utd-fa-cup-final
Alejandro Garnacho had pounced early on to open the scoring, before fellow academy graduate Mainoo popped up at the backpost to add a second, slotting home perfectly following Bruno Fernandes' ingenious reverse pass.
The then-teenager, like the thousands decked out in red at Wembley, roared in celebration, revelling in the crowing moment of a stunning, six-month rise from relative obscurity.
The Old Trafford faithful have been wedded to United's golden boy since then, although there has been no such warmth from new boss Ruben Amorim.
What Amorim said about Mainoo after West Ham
From the highs of that Wembley showpiece, and his subsequent role in England's run to the final at Euro 2024, Mainoo's impact has plummeted since then, having hardly had a look-in following an injury-hit start to 2024/25.
Mainoo debut season at Man United (timeless)
Seemingly fighting a losing battle from the off following Amorim's arrival in November 2024 - having failed to start the Portuguese's first game in charge against Ipswich Town - the Stockport native has drifted onto the periphery, with 2025/26 proving particularly frustrating thus far.
The forgotten man, Mainoo is yet to start a single Premier League game this season, playing just 171 minutes in all, having been an unused substitute for the fourth time against West Ham United in midweek.
Mainoo Amorim quotes
Speaking after that dismal 1-1 draw, Amorim went on the defensive regarding his treatment of the youngster, while laughing off suggestions that the midfielder could have been an "offensive" alteration.
Asked if he understood why Mainoo's status as a homegrown talent made him such a talking point for fans and pundits alike, the 40-year-old replied:
"Of course I understand, and my job is to answer.
"But you always ask me the same thing. I understand what you are saying. You love Kobbie. He starts for England. But that doesn't mean that I need to put Kobbie [in] when I feel that I shouldn't put Kobbie [in]. It's my decision."
Mainoo, unsurprisingly, is seeking a January exit amid his bizarre fall from grace, although he surely isn't the midfielder INEOS should be looking to move on.
Man Utd must sell flop who's getting the Mainoo treatement
Perhaps the biggest source of frustration regarding Mainoo's situation is that Amorim isn't exactly blessed with regard to midfield depth, with his current squad boasting just four recognised, senior midfielders to choose from.
For much of 2025/26, the ex-Sporting CP boss has selected ever-present skipper, Fernandes, alongside the ageing Casemiro, with both Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte limited to mere late cameos off the bench.
Like the FA Cup final hero, Ugarte has also become a notable talking point amid his limited role under Amorim, despite having previously worked with the 3-4-2-1 boss in Lisbon.
Ugarte
Indeed, it was reported last month that the ex-Paris Saint-Germain man had been criticised by his manager in front of teammates at Carrington, following the Europa League final defeat.
Like Mainoo, who enjoyed just a mere last-gasp cameo in Bilbao, Ugarte was also something of an afterthought even as United toiled, having failed to even make it off the bench on the night.
Mainoo & Ugarte - 25/26 PL stats
Stat (*per game)
Games
Starts
Goals
Assists
Big chances created
Key passes*
Pass accuracy*
Total duels won*
Balls recovered*
Dribbled past*
Stats via Sofascore
Much like Mainoo too, the Uruguayan has been forced to settle for a watching brief for much of this season, starting just twice in the top-flight, while notably being hooked at the break following an "embarrassing" display against Grimsby Town, in the view of writer Alex Turk.
Of course, there isn't the groundswell of support for Ugarte like there is for his midfield colleague, with the decision to fork out almost £50m on the 24-year-old standing out as one of the worst decisions of recent years at Old Trafford.
Whether the £120k-per-week talent, again like Mainoo, is being helped by his manager is another matter, however, with Amorim hardly backing his man after revealing that Ugarte is "struggling" to adjust to life in the Premier League.
“So I know that Ugarte is struggling in the moment, and my job is trying to help him to feel as a player, like I felt when he was a Sporting player, for example, but it is a different world, and he needs to adapt, and he needs to improve, especially in training.”
Either way, if it comes down to choosing between which peripheral midfielder needs to be shown the door, it should surely be Ugarte whom INEOS cash in on, with the safe and steady asset doing little to warrant a third-season stay in Manchester.
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