Kobbie Mainoo struggled for minutes under Ruben Amorim and the England international was linked with a January move away after being used as a substitute this season
Ruben Amorim speaking at a Manchester United press conference
Ruben Amorim spoke about Kobbie Mainoo during his time at Manchester United(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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Former Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim might have been unwilling to use Kobbie Mainoo before being sacked but he remained reluctant to write off the midfielder. Amorim's set-up appeared to leave no space for Mainoo, who he didn't believe was the right man to partner Bruno Fernandes in a two.
Amorim's time at Old Trafford came to an end earlier this month, with his final match coming against Leeds United in the Premier League. Mainoo missed that Elland Road trip through injury, having also sat out the three before it, before returning to the bench at Burnley and starting against Brighton in the FA Cup.
Until the Portuguese boss got his marching orders, Mainoo looked to be on the way out. He still hasn't started a league game this term but was at least getting more action under Amorim until injury struck.
Even as the England international was linked with a move which might help revive his World Cup hopes, much of the noise indicated it would be a loan rather than a permanent exit. On top of this, Amorim's comments - as he continued to sideline the 20-year-old - pointed to a belief he still had an Old Trafford future even if it wasn't an immediate one.
"I expect a lot from Kobbie Mainoo and again people think that sometimes you need to just give. I think it’s important for Kobbie to fight for his place," Mainoo told Sky Sports in August. "I believe a lot in Kobbie – more than everybody thinks – so I expect a lot from him.
"I think he’s playing in one position, he’s fighting with Bruno. They can play together. We need to improve that position and you can see it against Fulham, so I just expect the best from Kobbie, the same as everyone."
Ruben Amorim speaking with Kobbie Mainoo during Man United's 2024/25 Europa League run
Amorim speaking with Mainoo during last season's Europa League run(Image: PA)
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Those comments came after United's second match of the season against Fulham, the second game in a row in which Mainoo was an unused substitute. The youngster would get his first start of the season against Grimsby in the FA Cup but an extended run of league starts would not follow.
Fernandes' durability meant Mainoo's role remained one of substitute but a half-hour run-out against Bournemouth appeared to point to a willingness for Amorim to use him the next week as cover for the suspended Casemiro. Unfortunately for the England international, injury struck ahead of that game and he remained absent while Fernandes suffered a rare injury-enforced absence of his own.
There had been speculation over a January loan to Napoli, where Mainoo might have been able to link up with former United team-mates Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund. However, Michael Carrick's appointment as interim manager could offer him a lifeline - especially when Carrick's previous comments about the value of United's academy are taken into account.
"I think for a club to have a player that’s come through the academy and knows the club and feels it… I think Man United’s got to have an element of that. It always has done and always should have," Carrick said in 2025.
"To have a talent like Mainoo, which he’s shown already, you’ve got to have players like that [in the team], players that you can say, ‘They get it. They know it. Let’s help them and stick with them’. I think there’s definitely a place for him there, for sure.”
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