Ruben Amorim has been under fire for not finding room for Kobbie Mainoo in his Manchester United starting XI.
Kobbie Mainoo is yet to start a single Premier League match in 2025/26, which has led to speculation of an exit in January.
Napoli want to sign Mainoo in January, and the 20-year-old is eager to pursue regular game time ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Ruben Amorim admitted coaches can be wrong about a player when discussing Kobbie Mainoo
Could Mainoo follow Vitinha and become a 'best in the world' calibre star if he gets a transfer?
Amorim/Mainoo/Vitinha
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Ruben Amorim has explained that Mainoo is competing with Bruno Fernandes for a position in the starting XI, and the Portuguese playmaker is in undroppable form.
Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 formation doesn’t leave much space for Mainoo to work his way into the line-up, but a change of shape could suit him perfectly.
Kobbie Mainoo playing against Wolves
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
Ruben Amorim hints at three-man midfield formation
United resume their Premier League campaign against Bournemouth on Monday evening, and once again, there will be plenty of attention on whether or not Mainoo gets minutes at Old Trafford.
In his pre-match press conference, Amorim made concerning comments about United’s academy players as a way to defend his omission of Mainoo.
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When talking about Mainoo specifically, Amorim said: “The problem is that we are playing with two, and you guys see Kobbie in a different way that I’m seeing.
“Sometimes maybe if I play with three midfielders, not with just two, but with the three, Kobbie will have more minutes and imagine if that is [to] happen. Someone in front is going to lose their spots.”
According to The Athletic, Amorim has spent time in training working on a 4-3-3 formation ahead of the Bournemouth clash.
Amorim also made it clear that Mainoo could play in Casemiro’s role, but the Brazilian international has been in great form.
How Man United could line up with three-man midfield
In the past year, Amorim has adapted his tactics at United to adjust to the Premier League.
There have been different variations of his 3-4-2-1 shape, and now he has hinted at potentially playing three in midfield.
Should Ruben Amorim experiment with a 3-man midfield at Manchester United?
Ruben Amorim: "The problem is that we are playing with two. Sometimes maybe if I play with three midfielders, not with just two, but with the three, Kobbie will have more minutes."
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READ MORE: Man Utd’s academy is being mishandled but Ruben Amorim is not the real culprit behind it
Bruno Fernandes has been forced to play deeper this season, but a three-man midfield could push him back into his favoured No.10 role.
Alternatively, Fernandes could play alongside Mainoo and allow Casemiro to sit deeper in a No.6 role.
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