Manchester United oversaw many arrivals and departures in the transfer window, but one saga was so important that Sir Jim Ratcliffe had to get especially involved.
The first stage of the renovation is complete after spending around £225 million during the summer transfer window on four new players (Diego Leon signed in January) and authorizing departures totaling almost £100 million.
There were numerous plotlines throughout this transfer window, ranging from Benjamin Sesko’s soap opera-like turns and turns to Bryan Mbeumo’s dragging drama.
It says a lot about one player in particular that Sir Jim Ratcliffe felt compelled to step in and make a definitive judgment because the exits weren’t without controversy either.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe intervened in Kobbie Mainoo saga
The window proceeded largely as planned, but there was one storyline that no one anticipated: Kobbie Mainoo’s discontent with Manchester United.
Mainoo required guarantees regarding playing time because he was left out of the first two league games and the World Cup was approaching the next season.
There was a standoff since Mainoo wanted to leave United, albeit on loan, and Ruben Amorim was obviously not in the mood to offer those.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has now disclosed that Sir Jim Ratcliffe attended the meeting since Mainoo’s decision caused such a ruckus at the club.
Along with the whole executive team, he led the decision not to allow Mainoo to leave.
Romano said: “Kobbie Mainoo had a difficult and complicated six to seven days. He was not happy about his situation. He never asked to go permanently, but on loan.
“Man Utd internally said no. With Sir Jim Ratcliffe involved, they decided that they couldn’t sell Mainoo. This was a decision with all the people involved.”
Ruben Amorim needs to handle Mainoo carefully
Ratcliffe’s involvement makes it evident that Amorim is losing the battle for Mainoo’s influence, therefore he must proceed with caution.
Mainoo’s relationship with the team may be permanently strained if he was not selected for the World Cup because Amorim didn’t think he was better than Casemiro or Manuel Ugarte.
Romano has stated that the window closing is merely a stop on this story, not its conclusion, and Mainoo’s contract standoff is adding to the uncertainty.
Romano said: “This could be a topic again if Mainoo stays on the bench. The pitch will have the final say in his situation. One to watch in January again.”
If Amorim is not going to rest the Portuguese, he must find a way to make room for Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes given the lack of European games and their elimination from the Carabao Cup.
It would be contrary to all this club stands for to lose a generational academy talent due to a system that has not yet produced consistently great outcomes.
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