Ruben Amorim has only given debuts to three Manchester United academy products since taking charge and took a swipe at the club's youth system ahead of facing Bournemouth
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 8: Ruben Amorim Manager of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United at Molineux on December 8, 2025 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)
Ruben Amorim gave a scathing verdict(Image: Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)
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Manchester United fans have been left stunned after Ruben Amorim took a swipe at the club's famous academy. United manager Amorim has been criticised for not involving enough homegrown players during his troubled 13-month reign at Old Trafford.
Only three youngsters - Tyler Fredricson, Harry Amass and Chido Obi - have debuted under the ex-Sporting Lisbon boss, who flooded his team with academy products at his former club. Amorim, though, has suggested that two of those three alongside Toby Collyer - who made his debut under Erik ten Hag - were promoted to the first-team too early.
Obi featured in the senior squad last season but has mainly trained United's under-21s this term while Harry Amass has been a regular since joining Sheffield Wednesday on loan. Collyer, meanwhile, is back at United recovering from an injury after making four appearances on loan at West Bromwich Albion.
While discussing the future of Kobbie Mainoo, United's star academy graduate of the past few seasons, Amorim began criticising the club's youth system. "He (Collyer) played (for United). He's from the academy. He played here," the Red Devils boss began.
"He went to West Bromwich. He's not playing. He played for Manchester United. So sometimes it's not because he's from the academy or whatever.
"It's the situation, what's happened. I don't know what is going to be the future (for Mainoo). Let's see after this match. Amass is now struggling in the Championship. Chido is not always a starter in under-21s. All these guys played when a lot of people were saying sack the manager!"
Amorim was likely referencing Wednesday's troubles as opposed to Amass' own performances. The Championship club want to extend the left-back's loan until the end of the season.
United fans reacted with fury, with one posting on X: "What is Amorim trying to achieve with those quotes about Mainoo and the academy? Honestly just self sabotage at this point." Another said: "Slagging off our academy players to defend his stubbornness is a new low for Amorim."
A third followed up by writing: "Ruben Amorim throwing the academy players under the bus, knowing full well the fundamentals of the club's history is built on the academy surely has to be the final straw for (Jason) Wilcox and INEOS. He's not the right man for the job and we must act before we lose more youth talents."
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 04: Toby Collyer of West Bromwich Albion during the Sky Bet Championship match between Millwall and West Bromwich Albion at The Den on October 04, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Toby Collyer's loan has been stunted by injury
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BLACKBURN, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Harry Amass of Sheffield Wednesday run off the ball during the Sky Bet Championship match between Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday at Ewood Park on December 06, 2025 in Blackburn, England. (Photo by Joe Prior/Getty Images)
Harry Amass has impressed amid Sheffield Wednesday's woes
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United supporters also fear that the club's remarkable record of featuring a homegrown player in every matchday squad for the last 88 years (more than 4,300 games) will come to an end under Amorim due to his lack of trust. In November, midfielder Jack Fletcher was called up for the Red Devils' trip to Tottenham, ensuring that the record stayed intact.
"It's really important," Amorim told TNT Sports. "We are in a moment where if we [cut] corners to have success right away, it's the wrong thing.
"There is something special in our club which has to be bullet proof. The way we behave, the way we feel [about] the club. We are not going to stop with academy players. It doesn't matter about the result.
"We will continue with these small details which are the foundations of our club. We have that record, we won't break that record. And Jack is ready to help us. We will show that our academy is our future. The players in our academy must be ready to help us."
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