Ex-Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim left Kobbie Mainoo on the peripheries of his squad, before his replacement Michael Carrick immediately reintegrated him
Manchester United Head Coach / Manager Ruben Amorim reacts to Robbie Mainoo of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United
Ruben Amorim's treatment of Kobbie Mainoo at Man Utd has been slammed(Image: Getty)
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Steven Gerrard has ripped into Ruben Amorim and claimed his treatment of Kobbie Mainoo was ‘out of order’.
The ex-Manchester United manager inherited a side where Mainoo had become a regular, after bursting onto the scene under his predecessor Erik ten Hag.
But rather than make him the centrepiece of his United team, Amorim decided to relegate him to a squad player. Before Amorim was put out of his Old Trafford misery in January, Mainoo had not started a single Premier League match all season - and completed 90 minutes just once, in the Carabao Cup.
That saw Mainoo drop out of the England side, having started for the Three Lions in the Euro 2024 final and shining throughout the tournament. It also resulted in major speculation that he could leave his boyhood side, with the likes of Napoli reported to be interested.
However, since Amorim was replaced by Michael Carrick at the start of 2026, the midfielder’s fortunes have been reversed. He has started all 10 matches under Carrick in a run which has seen them pick up more points than any other Premier League side.
He was also back in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad named on Friday, with the expectation he will now be on the plane to North America for the World Cup this summer.
Former England skipper Gerrard is confident Mainoo will make Tuchel’s final squad, but hit out at the way he was treated by his former boss.
“I felt really sorry for him in terms of the kid’s career under Amorim,” he said on TNT Sport. “I think it was out of order that he never got any opportunity, especially with Man United being so inconsistent.
Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard has said Mainoo will walk into England's World Cup squad(Image: TNT Sports)
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“But not surprised that Michael Carrick [started to play him]. I think that was one of the straight wins if you walk into a job, if you like. Get Kobbie Mainoo back in, get him smiling, give him game time and minutes, and get him fit and up to the speed where we all know he can play.
“He’s now at a level where he walks in the England squad, never mind Amorim not playing him. He walks into the England squad if he’s playing regularly for Man United.”
As well as a return to the England setup, Mainoo now looks primed to sign a new deal at United. His current contract was due to end next summer, but hadn’t been updated to reflect his current standing at the club.
But it is understood that he is now expected to extend that arrangement and remain with United on a long-term contract until 2031.
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