One of the many storylines of Manchester United’s 2025/26 season so far is the continued snubbing of Academy starlet Kobbie Mainoo by manager Ruben Amorim.
The Stockport native, 20, broke through for the
Reds under Erik ten Hag and made an impact for England at the UEFA Euro in 2024 as well, but has found no way into the regular lineup for Amorim’s side.
The Portuguese coach insists there is no room in the starting XI for one of the best academy talents in decades, opting to suit a system rather than any player. Whether or not Mainoo fits the 3-4-2-1 approach has been the only issue for him. There hasn’t been much consideration for his talent, and in fact, Amorim has praised him whenever he explains himself, but the rigidity of his team’s shape has always come first regardless of the poor results and the inability to get the best of any United player while playing it.
If that last sentence bore a hint of annoyance, it’s because I’m annoyed, and this is where we get opinionated.
While my annoyance over Mainoo not starting is linked to the insistence on being overrun in midfield, I also think the most important thing for his development, and that of most players, is simply to play the game. I believe the best managers put their players in a position to succeed, and a preference for a specific tactic has not negated that for the best managers.
Amorim’s midfield is a tricky one to navigate. He clearly wants a ball progressor and an enforcer, and has had to settle for an awkward marriage in addressing either. Bruno Fernandes is playing deeper, sacrificing his creativity for the sake of having someone who can move the ball in the right direction in reach of the wingbacks and defense. Casemiro is the preferred option over Manuel Ugarte, who continues to struggle in his cameos after a bad start to the season.
The expenses paid to upgrade the forward line mean that Bruno is likely not going to get back to a No. 10 role unless there is an injury or change in coaching, but Amorim has rightfully also given Mason Mount minutes in that role this season after positive contributions.
Both midfield and No. 10 positions leave out Mainoo for the time being, and there is little indication that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is ready to move on from Amorim in the middle of the season. That means the best option for Mainoo is likely to find a loan.
Teams don’t like to spend in January, even when a prized young building block is made available. Rumors from the international break suggest that Napoli could have interest in a loan for Mainoo, and playing alongside Scott McTominay and Kevin De Bruyne certainly sounds like a fun idea for anyone who likes Napoli or enjoys watching football.
The problem, however, is that Amorim doesn’t have much behind Bruno Fernandes in midfield.
And so, once again: do you listen to Amorim or develop your best young player?
In the opinion of this writer, Mainoo should go on loan. He is too valuable to risk selling for a fee that will become embarrassing in the future, and given the lifespan of United managers, there is a good chance his current contract keeps him a Red long enough to see another coach with a different view of things. The clock is ticking, though, and his deal expires in June of 2027.
Mainoo clearly wants to play. He reportedly requested a loan in August with hopes of breaking back into the England team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. More than that, he likely just wants to get back to realizing his potential, and he can’t do that sitting on a bench.
