Kobbie Mainoo is one of the biggest examples of players not being utilised in Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system at Manchester United, leading to constant calls for the academy graduate to leave his boyhood club.
When Kobbie Mainoo asked to leave Manchester United on loan, it was because he wanted to play regular football ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Ruben Amorim decided there weren’t enough options in midfield to let Mainoo go, despite making it clear that his preferred options for a double pivot are Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro.
The United head coach previously stated that Mainoo was competing with Fernandes for a place in the team, but the Portugal international has performed well despite being tasked with playing in a deeper midfield role. As a result, Mainoo has yet to start a game in the Premier League this season.
It’s a big fall from grace for such a young player, who at 20 years old has already won the FA Cup and played in a European Championship final for England.
Nobody can be blamed for questioning whether Amorim is making the right decisions with a player who once looked untouchable after graduating from United’s academy under Erik ten Hag.
At that time, there was genuine hope for Mainoo running United’s midfield for the long-term future. That has changed since the arrival of Amorim.
Kobbie Mainoo playing against Tottenham Hotspur
Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images
Former Man Utd players giving Kobbie Mainoo the wrong advice
Things are clearly not going to plan for Mainoo.
The lack of minutes will likely see him miss out on a place in the England squad for the World Cup next summer, while sitting on the bench every week is not going to do his development any good.
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Perhaps the biggest blow came when United lost to Grimsby. That defeat meant there wouldn’t be more fixtures in the Carabao Cup for fringe players – such as Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee – to make a further impression on Amorim.
There is no doubt that Mainoo would have more minutes under his belt if United were still competing in the Carabao Cup, but the fact that he isn’t featuring more in league matches is still a concern.
Another concern of mine is how many former United players are openly urging Mainoo to pack in his United dream and move on elsewhere. These are players I respect – like Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Rio Ferdinand.
Scholes and Butt debated Mainoo’s situation and alluded to how he will leave the club and be a superstar elsewhere, while Ferdinand agreed and urged him to leave.
Ferdinand said: “I saw, shoutout to Butty and Scholesy, but I saw them talking about it the other day, and I agree with them.
“If I think about it, I put myself in Kobbie Mainoo’s shoes, I’m out of there, I have to go, he was playing for England, but he’s wasted 18 months of his career now at Manchester United.
“I think he’s been there six months longer than he should have been; he should have gone.
“If I was him, the manager isn’t going to start playing me now, he’s not played me all these matches, he won’t play me now, so let’s be honest with each other, I’m surplus to requirements, so get me out of here.”
THIS was Ruben Amorim and Kobbie Mainoo’s first meeting – November 12, 2024
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What about showing commitment, hard work and doing whatever it takes to get back into the team? Scholes, Butt and Ferdinand had to work hard to reach the highest levels of the game, and the same applies to Mainoo if he wants to become a United legend.
Club legends like Scholes and Butt, who graduated from the academy, should know better, even if they think Amorim is wrong to overlook Mainoo. This is a 20-year-old we are talking about. Not a seasoned professional renowned for consistency.
If Mainoo left United, the beneficiaries would include the club receiving a determined young midfielder with incredible potential and the rest of the Premier League.
Every other team, including our rivals, would be delighted to see that we’ve lost one of the best players to come through our academy in recent years.
Mainoo was part of United’s most recent FA Youth Cup-winning side a year before he scored at Wembley to guide the club to FA Cup success against Man City, putting his name in the history books.
We should be ensuring that Mainoo sees the bigger picture rather than leaving United in 2026. He could still have a bright future at the club if he’s not pushed away.
Hardship is part of football, but so is bouncing back.
Bayern Munich interested in Kobbie Mainoo
A recent report from TEAMtalk suggests Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich are interested in Mainoo.
Bayern have supposedly held direct discussions with Mainoo’s representatives in a move that could see him link up with England captain Harry Kane.
It is noted that Bayern feel ‘confident’ that Mainoo would be receptive to a move to the Allianz Arena, although he has also been linked with Napoli in recent weeks.
Kobbie Mainoo wants to leave United in January – latest
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United fans would be disappointed to lose a talent like Mainoo, even if Amorim doesn’t have a place for him in the team right now.
These situations can change quickly in football, especially with injuries. Mainoo needs to wait for his moment again.
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