Kobbie Mainoo was seen as a star of the future for Manchester United after his breakthrough in 2023 but he has become surplus to requirements under Ruben Amorim and his future is uncertain
Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo could have few options on the table if he does pursue an exit from Old Trafford, according to reports.
Mainoo is one of the most exciting prospects to come out of the club's academy in recent years following his breakthrough under Erik ten Hag in the 2023-24 season.
But he has failed to kick on under his successor Ruben Amorim, who has preferred Casemiro in midfield and has dropped Mainoo for the first two Premier League games of the season.
Fans have questioned why he has fallen out of favour under the Portuguese coach after he opted to bring on Manuel Ugarte off the bench against Arsenal and Fulham, while Mainoo has been an unused substitute for both matches.
There is now speculation that Mainoo could depart Old Trafford in this transfer window after reports that the boyhood United star is open to leaving to pursue more game time with another club.
It's a World Cup year and Mainoo will want to stake a claim for a place in Thomas Tuchel's England squad, having started for England in the Euro 2024 final against Spain.
According to the Athletic, Mainoo is considering an exit from United as he approaches the final two years of his contract, but the issue is that there are few options for him in the transfer market.
The summer transfer deadline is approaching on September 1 in less than a week's time but there has been no concrete interest from other clubs or any approaches as of yet.
When asked why Mainoo was out of his plans at present, Amorim said Bruno Fernandes was ahead of him in the pecking order and told the player to "fight for the position".
"He’s fighting for the position now with Bruno and I change two midfielders," Amorim said after the 1-1 draw at Fulham.
"I let Mason Mount [play] there because we want to score a goal and when I changed I felt the team need to return to one holding midfielder near Bruno.
"So he (Mainoo) just needs to fight for the position with Bruno, as [it] should be at Manchester United. [Sometimes] he’s going to play with Bruno, but at the moment he’s fighting in training with Bruno for the position."
Moyabdelsu
1
mainoo is better than Casemiro
yiealuz
0
He can go to wherever he wants... we are tired of these English boys and their press
Butabdenoz
0
mainoo is streets ahead in class yet the useless ugarte is preferred ugarte couldn't get off the bench in a farmer's league
Niccdortu
0
Guaranteeing players a spot in a team as big as United even if they haven't proved themselves is the reason glory will remain elusive for United. We saw it with Rashford that players in England can spark in one season then turn off for 3 seasons and yet fans and pundits will insist every coach should play them.
Hadanpryz
1
Amorim, you are making feel like vomiting with your team formation man! just leave,go! ASAP.
Fouabdimsy
1
He’s now becoming useless,,,Maino is very good compared to ugarte…he just needs to find where to place him not this stupidity
lesakrstz
0
Amorim don't want English players. He wants to make England National Team weak during World cup
Bapcdeilp
1
this manager is killing the career of young football players dont have the guts to play them
Biedemnos
1
Amorim need to be sacked...im tired of his tactics😠
raubdilpsu
0
These fans forget Maino haven't been the same after his injury... He easily gas out after 30 minutes this fans are acting like this boy will make us any better than where we are. I agree he needs some game time but he's not the solution to the midfield 2 either
Dencdnrtu
0
Liverpool just sign maino
Letbcimrs
0
i wish mainoo could play alongside caicedo at Chelsea
nicklptz
3
No I think Amorim doesn't know these players or he's not a good coach at all
Danielkelly
1
Amorim just dey do anyhow with this guy, a great holding midfielder.. Amorim shouldn’t play Bruno as 8 again and play him as 10… he should peer kobbie and ugarte then give Bruno is number 10 position to play.
makalnsz
0
who mother fucker is going to play for the club if you treating all players bad
juyablrt
2
change that formation..stop saying that kobbie must compete with bruno while kobbie iz the defensive midfielder and bruno is playing attacking...look what happened to inter Milan against psg coz of that formation
Zaoaimory
2
Look at Barcelona's Yamal , so young but excelling . Amorim must swallow his pride and stop the stupid formation that is no yielding anything apart from confusing players as to what exactly they have to do .
Zaoaimory
2
Surely this coach is here to destroy , how can a 16 year old Ngumoha excell at Liverpool but a 22 year old Sesko is deemed young and not fit to start matches , this coach has already gotten started with Mainoo . What is this coach want to achieve by sticking to his stupid formation that has proved now and again its not working and not gonna anytime soon .
Chinadu
0
2 games in and over a kid, na “snub” be the new narrative already. Fans as bad as the media sometimes
u are right. they are the one carrying dis rumors...
recbdnuy
3
2 games in and over a kid, na “snub” be the new narrative already. Fans as bad as the media sometimes