Ruben Amorim has broken his silence on the ‘Free Kobbie Mainoo’ T-shirt worn by the Manchester United midfielder’s sibling at Old Trafford earlier this week.
Kobbie Mainoo has been limited to a bit-part role at Manchester United this season, which has put his place in the England squad in serious doubt ahead of the 2026 World Cup, despite featuring in the 2024 European Championship final under Gareth Southgate.
The last two years of Mainoo’s career show how quickly things can change in football. He has gone from being a star for the future to a substitute who hasn’t started a single game in the Premier League this season.
Roy Keane has advised Mainoo on proving Ruben Amorim wrong and facing the challenge of getting back into the team at United. Other ex-players have bizarrely told Mainoo to leave.
However, Mainoo could start for United on Sunday when they travel to Aston Villa. Amorim has a decision to make in midfield due to Casemiro’s one-match suspension.
With Casemiro suspended, who should start vs Aston Villa?
Kobbie Mainoo or Manuel Ugarte?
Kobbie Mainoo / Manuel Ugarte
Getty Images
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Mainoo was in the headlines for the wrong reasons when his brother Jordan wrote a ‘Free Kobbie Mainoo’ T-shirt during United’s 4-4 draw against Bournemouth.
Leny Yoro and Kobbie Mainoo at Carrington
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Ruben Amorim rules out Kobbie Mainoo punishment
Amorim has confirmed that Mainoo will not face any disciplinary action after his brother’s attention-seeking stunt at Old Trafford.
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The United head coach took a fair approach to the situation by not blaming the United academy graduate for the behaviour of his sibling, who featured in a previous series of Love Island.
Amorim laughed at the line of questioning from the reporters when he said: “No, was not Kobbie [Mainoo] that wrote the T-shirt.
“He’s not going to start because of the T-shirt and he’s not going to the bench because of the T-shirt. He will play if we feel he’s right guys. I’m used to it, I’ve been here for a year.
“I’m not going to do something to Kobbie because someone in his family did something. If he is the right guys he is going to play.”
What do you think of Kobbie Mainoo’s brother wearing a ‘Free Kobbie Mainoo’ t-shirt at Old Trafford?
This is NOT going to help Kobbie Mainoo!
Kobbie Mainoo's brother Instagram
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The reporters attending the press conference asked more questions about Mainoo as Amorim stressed he was happy with Mainoo’s performance against Bournemouth.
“No [conversations with Kobbie],” he added. “He played really well, that is the important thing, my office is always open, nobody went there this week so everything is normal and we are ready to go to Villa.”
Ruben Amorim reacts to Chido Obi and Harry Amass social media posts
United teenagers Harry Amass and Chido Obi responded to public criticism from Amorim by posting cryptic social media posts.
In a now-deleted post, Amass shared a photo of him winning Sheffield Wednesday’s November Player of the Month award with a smiley face emoji. It was deleted five minutes after being posted.
Obi shared a photo of himself celebrating a goal for United’s U21s, stating that he isn’t always a starter. That post was also deleted by the United academy star.
When asked about the posts by Amass and Obi, Amorim said: “I think the feeling a little bit of entitled one we have in our club, sometimes strong words is not bad words, difficult moments are not bad for the kids. We don’t need always to be accolades for every situation.
“You guys talk about players who speak against clubs because they feel entitlement, then you have legends so if you don’t play, leave because everyone is wrong. No, stay and fight, let’s overcome maybe the manager is wrong.
“I have the feeling we need to fight against this feeling. I’m the first one to say I’m failing. Outside the pitch I guarantee I’m not failing this club. It is is something in our club and the players sometimes they forget the players what it means to play for Man United, we as a club forget sometimes who we are. It’s the environment, the kids feel entitled and free to respond to the manager with a picture. My office is open but nobody is coming to talk to me. That is the way we solve things. We need to change as a club.
“I didn’t say anything wrong, I spoke about how the luck of playing for Man United.
“Sometimes you play for Man United and see different realities and you understand football can be so different and you are really lucky to be at Man United. That was my point but let’s move on.”
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