Manchester United’s struggles this season have been well documented. Four games in, just four points, and already pressure is mounting on Ruben Amorim.
Among the many issues, one has been hard to ignore: the sudden fall of a young midfielder who was once central to the team.
Last season, under Erik ten Hag, Kobbie Mainoo was almost undroppable. He made 32 appearances last season. He was a breakout star for club and country.
The young midfielder even started the European Championship final. Yet under Amorim, things look very different.
Mainoo has played only once in the league. The England international had to watch from the bench, helplessly as United were dismantled 3-0 by Manchester City at the weekend.
The Portuguese coach explained the decision, but it hardly offered comfort to fans. Amorim told (via Goal):
“The way I play is completely different from the last manager. I watched a lot of games from the Premier League in Portugal. You can feel then that Manchester United really [played in] transitions. He was the only guy that calmed down the game. Now we have other players that calm down the game,”
Sometimes I expect more from Kobbie Mainoo. Sometimes, maybe if I start [him] more, Kobbie Mainoo is going to play and he’s going to get hard to take out. I need to go with what I’m feeling at the moment and that is the only feeling.”
With Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, and Manuel Ugarte ahead of him in the pecking order, the Manchester United academy graduate faces being frozen out.
Napoli showed interest in Kobbie Mainoo this summer. But United were not ready to let the midfielder go.
Mainoo played only in the EFL Cup against Grimsby Town while the Premier League minutes dried up. Now, according to talkSPORT, Newcastle United are ready to test United’s resolve in January.
The Magpies admire Mainoo’s talent and believe St James’ Park could be the perfect place for him to revive his career.
If Amorim continues to overlook him, the 21-year-old may have no choice but to consider a new challenge in the winter window.
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