Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo has an uncertain future at Old Trafford and Red Devils legend Ryan Giggs has given his verdict on the player’s situation ahead of January
Ryan Giggs wants Kobbie Mainoo to be patient at Manchester United and reckons an Old Trafford stay could serve his World Cup dreams better than a move away.
Mainoo has yet to start a Premier League match under Ruben Amorim this season and was denied a loan away from the club in the summer transfer window. United are reluctant to sanction an exit in January despite Mainoo’s desire for more playing time.
The 20-year-old midfielder’s brother wore a t-shirt stating ‘Free Kobbie Mainoo‘, in the stands against Bournemouth. That move thrust the youngster’s situation into the limelight once again in controversial fashion.
Red Devils icon Giggs understands Mainoo’s aspirations to play in the World Cup next summer in the United States. He feels a move in January could have little positive impact given the time required to settle at a new club.
Giggs told BetSelect: “Every player wants to play in the World Cup and be on the pitch for their club. But if he goes on loan somewhere, he’s only got three or four months to really hit the ground running. What club has he gone to?
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“Is it a club that’s getting beaten every week, and it’s not doing him any favours? Or is it somewhere he’s going to be in and out of the team?”
“He needs to make sure that when he gets his chance, he does well, especially around this time when the games come thick and fast,” Giggs added. “I thought he did well the other night when he came on against Bournemouth. He just needs to take his chance, and anything can happen.
“If he suddenly takes these opportunities and he’s playing regularly until the end of the season for Man United, that will give him more chance [at the England Squad] than going anywhere else.”
Roy Keane similarly believes Mainoo must be patient. “Are you telling me that he can’t sit there for another six months?,” he said.
“He might think the manager’s on his way out in the summer. He’s 20 years of age, what’s wrong with sitting and learning your trade? And even if he’s not getting a chance, we’ve all had to do it.
“Sometimes a manager is on your case and what you have to do is prove them wrong. Jamie [Carragher] made a point that he never felt like a regular at Liverpool, I never felt like that at United. Every day is your chance to prove yourself to the manager and when the manager is picking his team, [he goes] ‘he has to play’. He’s got to get that in his mindset.
“And when he’s got his idiot of a brother doing all that… we shouldn’t even be giving that kind of stuff the time of day. Sometimes you’re just surrounded by idiots, especially the families.”
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