Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim was reluctant to use Kobbie Mainoo during his time in the dugout at Old Trafford
Former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim may have been hesitant to deploy Kobbie Mainoo during his tenure but he never completely dismissed the midfielder’s potential. Amorim’s tactical system seemingly offered little room for Mainoo, as the boss didn’t consider him the ideal partner for Bruno Fernandes in a midfield pairing.
Amorim’s spell at Old Trafford was brought to a premature end earlier this month, with his final fixture coming against Leeds United at Elland Road. Mainoo was absent through injury for that match, having also missed the previous three encounters, though he would make a return to the substitutes’ bench at Burnley before earning a starting berth in the FA Cup tie against Brighton.
While Amorim remained in the dugout, Mainoo appeared destined for an exit. He’s yet to feature from the start in a league fixture this campaign, though he was seeing increased involvement under Amorim before injury intervened.
Despite speculation linking the England international with a transfer that could potentially revive his World Cup ambitions, most reports suggested any departure would be temporary rather than permanent. Furthermore, Amorim’s public statements – even while he continued to overlook the 20-year-old – hinted at a conviction that Mainoo still had a future at Old Trafford in some shape or form.
READ MORE: Forgotten Man Utd star set for immediate Michael Carrick talks ahead of future decisionREAD MORE: Man Utd isn’t ‘too difficult to fix’ as Michael Carrick told to sort glaring issue
“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,” Amorim 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.”
These remarks followed United’s second fixture of the campaign against Fulham, marking the second consecutive match where Mainoo remained on the bench throughout. The youngster would eventually make his first start of the season in the FA Cup clash with Grimsby, but a sustained run in the league side failed to materialise.
Fernandes’ remarkable fitness record meant Mainoo’s involvement was largely limited to substitute appearances, though a 30-minute cameo against Bournemouth suggested Amorim might be prepared to deploy him the following week as cover for the suspended Casemiro. Sadly for the player, injury intervened before that fixture, and he remained unavailable whilst Fernandes himself was forced off injured against Aston Villa.
A January loan switch to Napoli, where Mainoo could have reunited with former United colleagues Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund, had looked the most likely outcome. Now, though, Michael Carrick’s appointment as interim boss could provide him with a fresh opportunity – particularly given Carrick’s previous statements about the importance of United’s youth system.
“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.”
Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
