Roy Keane branded Kobbie Mainoo's brother an 'idiot' after he wore a 'Free Kobbie Mainoo' protest T-shirt at Old Trafford, while Manchester United face concerns over Bryan Mbeumo's AFCON departure
07:53, 19 Dec 2025Updated 07:55, 19 Dec 2025
Ruben Amorim's problems are mounting at Manchester United
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Ruben Amorim's problems are mounting at Manchester United(Image: Matt West/Shutterstock)
Manchester United are heading into a challenging part of their season with three players leaving for the Africa Cup of Nations.
The club could do without any distractions, but not everyone associated with the squad is playing ball. United legend Roy Keane has expressed his displeasure following a twist in the Kobbie Mainoo saga. This comes after the midfielder's brother was seen wearing a controversial T-shirt during their 4-4 draw with Bournemouth.
Next up for United is a daunting trip to high flying Aston Villa on Sunday in the Premier League. Manager Ruben Amorim may have to rely on a young player in the coming weeks as Mbeumo, Noussair Mazraoui and Amad Diallo have flown off to Morocco. Here's all the latest headlines from Old Trafford.
Roy Keane
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Manchester United legend Roy Keane was fuming(Image: Stick to Football on YouTube)
Keane criticises Mainoo's brother
In the midst of the controversy surrounding Mainoo's lack of playing time, the midfielder has largely kept quiet.
However, the same can't be said for his brother Jordan Mainoo-Hames, who was spotted at Monday's 4-4 draw against Bournemouth sporting a 'Free Kobbie Mainoo' T-shirt, reports the Mirror.
Mainoo was brought on for the final 30 minutes in what was a rollercoaster of a match, with Manchester United blowing the lead three times. Almost halfway through the Premier League season, Mainoo is still awaiting his first start.
Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United during the Premier League match against Bournemouth
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Kobbie Mainoo has been linked with a move away from Manchester United(Image: Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
The prank might have gone unnoticed if Mainoo-Hames, a former Love Island contestant, hadn't chosen to pose in front of the Old Trafford pitch and share the photo on Instagram.
News of the incident eventually reached club legend Keane, who discussed it on the Stick to Football podcast. Keane queried: "Are you telling me that he can't sit there for another six months?
"He might think the manager's on his way out in the summer. He's 20 years of age, what's wrong with sitting and learning your trade? And even if he's not getting a chance, we've all had to do it.
Kobbie Mainoo's half-brother Jordan wearing a T-shirt which says 'Free Kobbie Mainoo'
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Kobbie Mainoo's brother Jordan wearing a T-shirt which says 'Free Kobbie Mainoo'
"Sometimes a manager is on your case and what you have to do is prove them wrong. Jamie [Carragher] made a point that he never felt like a regular at Liverpool, I never felt like that at United.
"Every day is your chance to prove yourself to the manager and when the manager is picking his team, [he goes] 'He has to play'. He's got to get that in his mindset.
"And when he's got his idiot of a brother doing all that... we shouldn't even be giving that kind of stuff the time of day. Sometimes you're just surrounded by idiots, especially the families."
Keane was open to the idea of Mainoo going out on loan but challenged the youngster to prove Amorim wrong at Old Trafford instead. Meanwhile, Amorim has said he would be open to having a discussion with the player if approached.
Mbeumo fears early AFCON exit
Manchester United's Bryan Mbeumo during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United at Molineux on December 8, 2025 in Wolverhampton, England.
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Bryan Mbeumo is off to AFCON(Image: MB Media/Getty Images)
Countless United supporters, and presumably Amorim himself, are questioning how the club will cope during the absence of their AFCON representatives. There's no denying that Mbeumo will be the most significant loss from their right wing.
Nevertheless, it's perhaps Mbeumo who ought to be worried after a supercomputer predicted his Cameroon team faces an early exit.
The model, created by AFCON betting specialists at BookmakersCameroun.com, suggests the Indomitable Lions will struggle to progress from Group F after meeting the Ivory Coast, Gabon and Mozambique.
Mbeumo's time away would thus be fairly brief, and he could potentially return for the Leeds match on January 4. Former United defender Paul Parker recently articulated the impact Mbeumo's departure will have on the squad, with no other player in Amorim's ranks capable of performing the same role.
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"It is impossible for Manchester United to cope with the loss of Mbeumo when he leaves for the AFCON," said two-time Premier League winner Parker. "They simply can't. They have no one close to his level, so they will struggle without him.
"He is going to be a massive miss, and I can't see how they can do anything without him. We have to remember that he is one of the best players in the league, and he is definitely the best player from Manchester United."