Ruben Amorim has responded to the controversial T-shirt worn by Kobbie Mainoo's half-brother Jordan and has slammed the Manchester United legends who have told the midfielder to leave the club
15:24, 19 Dec 2025Updated 15:26, 19 Dec 2025
Ruben Amorim
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Ruben Amorim has addressed Kobbie Mainoo's brother's stunt(Image: Michael Zemanek/Shutterstock)
Ruben Amorim has hit back at Manchester United legends telling Kobbie Mainoo to leave the club, encouraging the midfielder to stay put and fight for his position. He insisted there was no problem following an incident where Mainoo's half-brother wore a controversial T-shirt at Monday's match against Bournemouth.
Mainoo's sibling, Jordan, wore a T-shirt with 'Free Kobbie Mainoo' written across it, but Amorim stated he hadn't felt compelled to discuss the incident with the academy graduate and wouldn't penalise him for a family member's actions. The image of Jordan in the T-shirt at Old Trafford during the 4-4 draw quickly went viral.
Amorim emphasised that the incident wouldn't impact his team selection and he held no grudge against Mainoo over it, despite it being another issue he's had to contend with this week.
Kobbie Mainoo's half-brother Jordan wearing a T-shirt which says 'Free Kobbie Mainoo'
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Kobbie Mainoo's half-brother Jordan wore a T-shirt with the slogan 'Free Kobbie Mainoo' at Manchester United's clash with Bournemouth
"It was not Kobbie that wore the t-shirt. He's not going to start because of the t-shirt but he's not going to the bench because of the t-shirt. He's going to play if we feel that he's the right guy to play," Amorim declared.
"That is not an issue. I'm used to it, I'm here for a year, it's not new. So we have to deal with that. But I'm not going to do something to Kobbie because someone in his family is doing something. It's going to be the same. If he's the right guy to play, he's going to play."
The 20-year-old has yet to make a Premier League start this campaign and remains open to a January loan switch, with his route to consistent first-team football at Old Trafford appearing blocked under Amorim.
Napoli continue to harbour interest in securing the England international on loan next month, while several United legends, including Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes, have advised him to seek pastures new.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 15: A dejected Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United at full time during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Bournemouth at Old Trafford on December 15, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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Kobbie Mainoo is yet to start a Premier League game this season(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA, Getty Images)
However, when questioned about Harry Amass and Chibo Odi - during which he criticised the sense of entitlement within the squad - Amorim referenced those remarks and insisted his players should be prepared to battle for their positions rather than looking for an escape route.
"We have legends of the club saying if you don't play, leave, because everyone is wrong," he stated. "No, let's stay, let's fight, let's overcome, maybe the manager is wrong, so I have that feeling all the time that we have to fight against this feeling."
During the summer, Amorim expressed his desire for the senior players to assume greater responsibility in managing dressing room issues, but he believes this transformation has yet to materialise and that internal problems continue to reach his attention.
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He also emphasised on multiple occasions that nobody had approached his office this week, having previously challenged Mainoo to do exactly that, whilst also criticising Amass and Chido for airing their grievances on social media. "It continues a bit everything on my desk, every problem it is still me, but again my door is still open," he stated.
"It was not Kobbie. The job of Kobbie is to train and play and I thought he did really well. If he has to play he is going to play, he is not going to play."