"Free Kobbie Mainoo".
The gesture from the Manchester United midfielder's half-brother and ex-Love Island star was ill-timed and ill-judged, but the sentiment rings true. You only have to listen to the Old Trafford crowd.
Kobbie-Mainoo-Manchester-United
Like it was by the away following at Molineux a week ago, Mainoo's introduction on Monday evening against Bournemouth was met with a chorus of cheers, rubberstamping where supporters' loyalties lie in the ongoing 'battle' between the Stockport native and Ruben Amorim.
There was an acceptance of Amorim's decision to send another academy product on his way, in Alejandro Garnacho, but the continued reluctance to unleash United's other FA Cup final hero has not gone down well. Nor have reports of a potential exit for the 20-year-old in January.
Still yet to start a Premier League game this season, Mainoo - seemingly unsuited, like Garnacho, to Amorim's approach - looks destined to depart, yet INEOS and the Old Trafford hierarchy should surely not be so hasty.
Why Mainoo can still be Bruno Fernandes' successor
The woes of Mainoo, which have come amid a pivotal World Cup year for the England international, have been brought into sharper focus now following Bruno Fernandes' bombshell comments this week.
In an interview believed to have actually taken place while on Portugal duty, the United skipper hit out at the club for their apparent desire to sell him over the summer, while teasing a possible future away from Manchester in the likes of Italy and Spain.
Bayern Munich are among those believed to have registered an interest.
With Casemiro out of contract this summer, and Manuel Ugarte seemingly in line for his own exit after falling badly out of favour, there is a world in which all four of United's senior midfielders depart next summer, should Mainoo follow suit.
Mainoo Amorim quotes
Amorim might want a complete overhaul, but the youngest of the quartet simply has to stay put, having shown flashes of his 2023/24 best in Monday's 4-4 thriller.
Brought on in place of the ageing Casemiro - who will now miss the upcoming trip to Villa Park through suspension - Mainoo's ball-playing quality was evident, as he completed 100% of his dribbles, as per Sofascore, while also winning 100% of his duels even amid United's defensive woes.
Albeit brief, that 30-minute came served as a reminder of why the FA Youth Cup winner was deemed to be a "generational talent" in his breakthrough year, in the view of Rasmus Hojlund, netting key goals against the likes of Wolves, Liverpool and Manchester City that season.
Patience is needed, both on his part and for the club, with the course of a young player's career never quite running smoothly.
Man Utd star's rise from peripheral figure to becoming undroppable
For all the frustration of dropping two points earlier this week, there was much to be encouraged by, be it Mainoo's second-half showing, Fernandes' stellar free-kick or even Amad's delightful display on the right flank.
Nudged back into a more advanced role than of late, the diminutive Ivorian was a terror up against Adrien Truffert and co, notably scoring the opener while regularly weaving his way into the Bournemouth box.
It is of some frustration that the 23-year-old's impact will now be halted by AFCON duty, although it is unlikely his status will have changed by the time of his return, having cemented a starting berth for himself under Amorim's watch.
Amad Bruno
That standing is a far cry from what the former Atalanta wonderkid had to endure under the Erik ten Hag reign, in particular, notably starting just three games in 2023/24, albeit while having been hampered by injury in the first half of the season.
A bright pre-season did see Amad start last term as Ten Hag's right winger, notably netting against Brighton, although he swiftly faded from view again, with journalist Samuel Luckhurst even stating that the youngster should have been "insulted" to have found himself behind Antony in the Dutchman's attacking pecking order.
In many ways, Amad was the Mainoo figure of Ten Hag's latter tenure, a young player supporters were desperate to see more of, yet held back by a manager who had other ideas in mind.
It wouldn't be hyperbole to suggest that the £19m signing has since made the former Ajax boss look rather silly under the new regime, racking up 21 goals and assists in just 43 games since Amorim took charge.
Amad's Man Utd record by coach
Manager
Ruben Amorim
Erik ten Hag
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Ralf Rangnick
Michael Carrick
Total
Stats via Transfermarkt
As Amad has shown, there is a way back for players at United, with the 2021 arrival having battled through spells out on loan, alongside injury, to finally cement such a vital role for himself, alongside the likes of Fernandes.
With only four players racking up more minutes under Amorim than the Ivory Coast international, as per Transfermarkt, his importance to the current United side is evident.
Amad-Bryan-Mbeumo-Man-Utd
Mainoo might use that journey as belief that he can enjoy his own rise back out from obscurity. Hopefully, however, it doesn't require another change in the dugout.
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