Rio Ferdinand tells Mainoo he has a no-brainer decision to make regarding his United future

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has weighed in on Kobbie Mainoo’s troubling situation, advising the midfielder on what he needs to do. Mainoo’s struggles Mainoo has yet to start a Premier League game this season, with Ruben Amorim seemingly unable to find a place in the team for the youngster. Mainoo got 12 minutes off the bench in the 4-1 win at Wolves on Monday night. The cameo represented his 10th appearance from the bench. During the closing stretch of the summer transfer window, Mainoo asked the club to let him leave on loan. He is determined to break into the England squad ahead of next year’s World Cup and is therefore keen on regular playing time. United declined his request. He remains open to a January loan move in the summer but United are only willing to sanction an exit if they can secure a replacement. There is no shortage of interest in Mainoo, with a recent report claiming that up to 12 clubs around Europe are all looking to snap him up. Amorim has responded sharply to questions over Mainoo’s playing time, recently earning himself some harsh criticism from Paul Scholes. In a separate sitdown in which he was joined by fellow club icon Nicky Butt, the two ex-United man urged Mainoo to leave United for the sake of his own career. Ferdinand has echoed Scholes and Butt’s sentiments, arguing that Mainoo can no longer afford to waste time while hoping for a miracle under Amorim. Ferdinand issues Mainoo verdict Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand remarked, “Did you hear the reaction of the fans when Kobbie Mainoo came on the pitch? Great show of support.” “I saw [Nicky] Butty and [Paul] Scholesy talking about it on their podcast and I totally agree with them. If I think about it and put myself in Kobbie Mainoo’s shoes I’m out of there, I’ve got to.” “He was playing for England and [was] one of the best players in the tournament. Not many people can say they’ve done that. He has just wasted 18 months of his career now at Manchester United.” Ferdinand continued, “He’s probably been there six months longer than he should’ve been. He should’ve just gone and I think his agent and more importantly his family around him have to protect him.” “He might be saying I love Manchester United too much to go I want to stay and fight, but it is going to be two years in the summer. You can’t lose two years in your career. It’s a short career and you have to make decisions that are best for you.” “If I was him I’d say ‘The manager isn’t going to start playing me now. If you’ve not played me in all these matches that have gone before you aren’t going to play me now. Let’s just be honest with each other I’m surplus to requirements. Get me out of here.’” United are next in action on Monday when they host Bournemouth. 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 Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!