Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has vetoed a deal for Kobbie Mainoo to join Napoli in January, according to reports in Italy.
The Red Devils have had a mixed campaign but could move into the top six of the Premier League with a win on Monday night, when they will face Bournemouth at Old Trafford.
That comes despite the manager being under pressure for his job, and facing heavy criticism for his use of midfielder Mainoo, who is one of just four first-team players yet to start a Premier League game this season.
The England star is keen to move on in January on loan to play more regularly and try to earn a spot in the World Cup squad under Thomas Tuchel, but it has now emerged that the Portuguese coach is the biggest hurdle to making a move happen.
Amorim Vetoes Mainoo Man Utd Exit
kobbie mainoo
Mainoo, who has been described as 'phenomenal', is regarded as one of the best prospects to come out of the Carrington academy in years, but he has struggled to find a place in Amorim's 3-4-3 system, with Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte ahead of him in the pecking order in central midfield.
The number ten position is also stocked with options, including Mason Mount, Matheus Cunha, Amad, and Bryan Mbeumo, which has seen 20-year-old Mainoo restricted to just 183 minutes of Premier League action this season.
Serie A champions Napoli are said to be at the front of the queue for his signature in January, with sporting director Giovanni Manna holding talks with the player's representatives regularly, and Mainoo himself is said to be very open to making the switch. However, it has now emerged that Amorim has put a stop to the deal.
Antonio Conte is said to be a big fan of Mainoo, while Scott McTominay is believed to be talking to his former Old Trafford teammate to convince him of a switch to Italy.
Amorim Must Play Mainoo or Let Him Go
Ruben Amorim
While Man Utd fans will absolutely love to hear that the manager doesn't want to let Mainoo leave, it will only add to the confusion in the fan base around why he is being used so sparingly.
The midfield is obviously one of the team's weakest areas, and Mainoo is one of the club's most talented players. If he isn't your first-choice option, that's fair enough, but to not even give him an opportunity suggests there is something deeper going on.
If he isn't going to give him a chance, then keeping him at the club suits nobody. But if he plans to use him more going forward, then this is what everyone wants to hear.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim crouches. Related
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