Kobbie Mainoo’s future at Old Trafford takes dramatic twist after latest decision from 20-yo star – report

Paul Scholes once openly admitted that Kobbie Mainoo is already far better than he himself was at the same age. Yet, despite the widespread recognition of his talent, the 20-year-old has surprisingly failed to establish himself under Ruben Amorim. Game time struggles Although the Portuguese tactician acknowledges Mainoo‘s ability, he has not placed much trust in him. Instead, Amorim believes Bruno Fernandes offers the same qualities as the Manchester United prodigy. Competing directly with Fernandes, Mainoo has stood little chance of dislodging the Portuguese magnifico and has consequently spent more time on the bench. So far this season, he has been afforded just 171 minutes of Premier League football out of a possible 1,170. With this being a World Cup year, Mainoo, like any ambitious player, is determined to feature in the premier competition. However, his limited game time will surely hinder his prospects of returning to the England national team fold. Mainoo needs to play more The midfielder can only convince Thomas Tuchel to recall him to the national team if he proves his case on the pitch. That means playing regularly between now and the summer. Driven by a desire for more opportunities, Mainoo is reportedly keen to leave United temporarily in the winter, with Napoli identified as his most likely destination. While Napoli are said to be hopeful of closing a loan deal, as The Peoples Person revealed on Tuesday, a conflicting report has now emerged. Get Football Italy News admits United are willing to sanction a loan exit and Napoli remain keen, but reveal a significant obstacle to this deal has surfaced. Mainoo unsure of leaving United “The complication lies with the player himself, who is reportedly unsure about moving to Serie A,” the Italian outlet claims. If Mainoo fails to make up his mind quickly, he risks missing the move altogether. “Napoli, meanwhile, has imposed a strict deadline: a deal for Mainoo (or a chosen alternative) must be finalised within the first few days of January,” adds the report. Such revelations inevitably cast doubt on the Partenopei’s pursuit of Mainoo. His hesitation certainly does not help their transfer plans, which may also be scuppered by United’s reluctance to lose him early in the window. Should United agree to let him leave, it is more likely to happen towards the end of the winter market, once Bryan Mbeumo, Noussair Mazraoui and Amad Diallo return from AFCON duty. Given those absences in late December and early January, it is unlikely Amorim will want to sacrifice further squad depth. Featured image Jan Kruger via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Daniel Onguko Dan is a writer with The Peoples Person, an avid Manchester United fan whose passion for the Red Devils evolved into writing about them. He was introduced to United back in 2008, and his love for the club has continued to grow ever since. Like every other United fan, he believes the club will soon return to its rightful place and strives to reflect that belief in his writing. While he has also written about other Premier League sides, including Arsenal for Just Arsenal and The Arsenal Analysis Blogspot, Dan lives and breathes Manchester United.