As depressing footage of the teenage midfielder looking downcast surfaces, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes once said that Kobbie Mainoo would find it difficult to sustain his excellent play at the club. Because of his performances in the previous two seasons, Mainoo, 20, was considered the Red Devils’ future.
Just over a year ago, Mainoo made his England debut after amassing an incredible collection of wonder goals. He also scored the game-winning goal in United’s 2024 FA Cup final victory over Manchester City, earning him the title of player of the match.
However, he went from having the world at his feet to now being truly unclear about his future at United. Mainoo has only started 15 of 44 games under Ruben Amorim, and he was benched for the second straight game this season when United drew 1-1 with Fulham on Sunday.
As speculation about Mainoo’s possible exit intensifies ahead of Monday’s deadline, a social media video of the young player at the full-time whistle has gone viral.
Speaking in April 2024, United captain Fernandes had the insight to recognize that Mainoo would not always get his way as opponents started to learn his style after his incredible debut season.
“It might not come this season, but it may come next season that it gets a little bit tougher for Kobbie because people know your game,” Fernandes said. “They know how to stop you and they’ve got different plans for you and ultimately different ways to go about nullifying your effect on the game.”
However, Fernandes was gushing about the impact Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho, who is expected to leave United with a move to Chelsea still in the works, had made when they joined the first team.
“They’ve been playing most and they’ve been doing well,” Fernandes stated. “They’ve been performing admirably. They’ve been getting better, and I think they’ve been excellent. It’s only the beginning. They must continue.
However, it appears that the midfielder’s unsettling forecast has come true for Mainoo.
Amorim started the match against Fulham with Casemiro and Fernandes in midfield, with Mason Mount dropping back when the former was substituted for forward Benjamin Sesko. Later, Mount was replaced by Manuel Ugarte.
After the game, footage showed Mainoo squatting down and wandering around aimlessly before clapping momentarily for United’s traveling supporters. In the end, he portrayed a player whose future appears to be headed for someone else.
According to reports, if a good offer were made, Mainoo would think about leaving United in the last week of the summer transfer season. The youthful sensation was apparently a target for Chelsea in January as well.
Amorim said there had been “no news” about a new contract for Mainoo prior to the Fulham match, indicating that talks over a new deal are also at a standstill.
In a cruel turn of events, Amorim disclosed after the game that the 20-year-old is vying for a starting position with the man who had warned Mainoo.
“Mainoo is fighting for his position with Bruno,” Amorim said. “I changed two midfielders. I left Mason Mount there because we wanted to score a goal and when I changed, I felt the team needed one holding midfielder.
“So he needs to fight for his position with Bruno. At the moment, he is fighting in training with Bruno for the position.”
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