Kobbie Mainoo was denied a move away from Manchester United in the final days of the transfer window, but his future at the club remains uncertain
Manchester United have preserved a tradition stretching back almost a century after Ruben Amorim stepped in to prevent Kobbie Mainoo’s exit. The 20-year-old midfielder tried to push through an exit during the closing days of the transfer window, unhappy after missing United’s first two Premier League matches of the new campaign.
His request, however, was turned down. Concerned about a lack of regular minutes – and with the 2026 World Cup likely influencing his thinking – Mainoo asked to leave temporarily on loan. Reports also linked him with a £50m permanent switch to Napoli, though the Italian side never formalised their interest.
Consequently, Mainoo remains part of United’s senior squad, a position that carries added weight since he is now the only academy product left in the group. For 88 straight years, the Red Devils have had at least one youth graduate involved at first-team level.
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During Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenure, academy talents frequently made up a large portion of the squad. In the years since his retirement, however, the numbers have slowly dwindled.
This summer highlighted that decline further: Marcus Rashford went to Barcelona on loan, Alejandro Garnacho signed for Chelsea, and Jonny Evans retired. Had Mainoo departed too, United’s historic policy of promoting from their own ranks would have been broken.
In reality, United may have only delayed the issue. Mainoo’s future remains unresolved. His current deal runs until 2027, yet talks over a new contract have been stalled for months, creating uncertainty for both player and club.
If negotiations fail to progress and his appearances remain scarce, United might eventually be forced to sell, particularly before he reaches the final year of his contract, when transfer value usually decreases.
That said, Amorim has publicly insisted that Mainoo is central to his plans, despite using him sparingly so far this season. « I want Kobbie to stay, » he said prior to United’s 3-2 victory over Burnley on Saturday.
« He needs to fight for his place. And we need Kobbie, so that is not going to change. I understand that the players that are not playing in this moment are disappointed. Everyone will have the same opportunity to play. You have to fight during the week. »
Mainoo initially broke through into United’s senior side in the 2022/23 campaign and has made 74 appearances, scoring seven goals. This term, though, he has featured just once in the league.
Under Amorim’s management, Mainoo has featured in roughly two-thirds of the 46 games the Portuguese coach has taken charge of, but has only started 16 times. Injury setbacks have been a factor, though Amorim’s preference for a two-man midfield has made competition intense, with Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte all jostling for position too.
Now, Mainoo must fight not just for a regular spot in Amorim’s plans, but also to secure his long-term place at Old Trafford – with United’s rich legacy of homegrown players partly resting on his shoulders.
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