Kobbie Mainoo has been linked with a move away from Manchester United this January as the midfielder continues to struggles for minutes under Ruben Amorim
Kobbie Mainoo celebrates scoring the winner as Manchester United beat Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux
Kobbie Mainoo hasn't been allowed to replicate his form of previous season
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Manchester United legends Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt have both backed Kobbie Mainoo as the young midfielder continues to be left out of Ruben Amorim’s squad. Mainoo has played just 183 Premier League minutes this season, all coming from the bench, with Amorim yet to start the 20-year-old.
Mainoo has been at United since joining the academy at nine years old, rising through the ranks before breaking into the first team during the 2023/24 season under Erik ten Hag. But since Amorim took charge last November, the midfielder has struggled to secure a regular starting role.
Amorim has been firm in his vision for the squad, exiling several first-team players into what became known as the “bomb squad” - Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho and Tyrell Malacia.
While Mainoo was not part of that group, his limited minutes are starting to raise concern. Across United’s last three matches, he has played just 13 minutes in total. The midfielders situation is starting to get on Scholes' nerves.
He told The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast: "Ruben Amorim has said Kobbie Mainoo is a starter… every appearance he’s made in the Premier League has been as a sub. Things like that wind me up.
"I wouldn’t mind if he was in a good team and they were winning every week and keeping possession but they’re rubbish. Kobbie is a 20-year-old kid and he’s not playing, he’s going to have to leave. Do you know what will happen now? Amorim will bring him into a game and he won’t be great but that’s because he needs regular games.
"Fair enough, as a manger sometimes you just don’t fancy a player. But look at what he’s already done – scored the winner in an FA Cup final, played every game in the Euros.
"I bet he takes the p*** out of Casemiro every single day in training and is brilliant. I don’t know why the club are letting Amorim treat a homegrown talent like that."
Casemiro has scored three goals this season
Casemiro has scored three goals this season(Image: (John Walton/PA Wire))
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Casemiro, despite previous criticism, has largely impressed this season and appears to be someone Amorim trusts. But at 33, and with his contract expiring next summer, the Brazilian is not seen as a long-term solution.
Butt is also infuriated with Mainoo's treatment and has hinted at where the midfielder could move to. He said: "The Kobbie one is an absolute joke. I went to the West Ham game [a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford] and it was an absolute s***show. It was a terrible, boring game"
"The player to bring on to change the game, in my opinion, was Kobbie Mainoo – but he didn’t get on the pitch. He’ll be another homegrown player who leaves and is a superstar somewhere else.
"If Mainoo was playing for another Premier League club, United go and buy him for £70m or £80m. Now we’re going to sell him and he’ll be a superstar elsewhere like McTominay, Elanga, Henderson – we can mention loads of them.
"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****** 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”.
"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.
"I’ve known Kobbie since he was eight but you wouldn’t be doing him justice if you told him to stay and not to take that move. That’s such a sad thing for me to say."