Times are hard at Manchester United, where head coach Ruben Amorim is coming under heavy fire for some of his selection choices.
The Portuguese’s 3-4-2-1 system depends on energetic, technically capable midfielders more than almost any other position.
After failing to reinforce in that area over the summer United forced Amorim to work with what he’s got, but he is going about it in quite a confusing way.
Mainoo on the fringes
The signings of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo essentially signalled the end of Bruno Fernandes’ time as a number 10, dropping the captain deeper into a number 8 position.
He is routinely fielded alongside the aging Casemiro or erratic Manuel Ugarte, leaving wonderkid Kobbie Mainoo as the odd man out.
Amorim clearly doesn’t see him as a number 6, meaning the 20-year-old has to go up against Fernandes – United’s almost undroppable captain – for game time.
This has caused frustration amongst fans and irked the player himself, who reportedly feels that the head coach doesn’t have any faith in his ability.
Possible January exit
The combination of his incredible talent and lack of game time has seen a host of Europe’s top clubs circling the youngster.
Even Manchester City are said to be interested, having seen his powers first hand in United’s unlikely FA Cup win last summer.
And according to Mundo Deportivo, Real Madrid have their “sights set” on him. The outlet cites journalist Ekrem Konur, who “does not rule out the possibility that Real Madrid will even go after the midfielder in the upcoming winter transfer window.”
Mainoo asked to leave United on loan in the closing stages of the summer window, but his exit was blocked.
However, Mundo Deportivo believe the player “is willing to leave United in January”, although any move depends on the possible departure of Dani Ceballos.
Mainoo is already believed to be keen on a move to the Bernabeu, although would surely stay at Old Trafford should his fortunes turn around.
Increased price tag
The Red Devils have seemed worryingly keen to cash in on the England international in the past, but according to this report they have slapped a €90m price tag on him to “ward off” interest from across Europe. Other clubs circling include Napoli, who recently took Rasmus Hojlund on loan, and Bayern Munich.
In today’s market even €90m seems a bargain for a player of Mainoo’s quality, but potential buyers can use his lack of minutes as leverage.
It still seems unconscionable that the 20-year-old is not in Amorim’s plans to such an extent that he could leave United.
The notoriously stubborn Portuguese certainly doesn’t view the youngster as the answer to his obvious midfield problem right now, but time may quickly run out should he not change his mind soon.
Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images
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Joe Ponting
Joe has spent more than half his life writing about football and all of it following United. As a child he told a doctor his name was ‘Paul Scholes’, but could never pick a pass like him no matter how much he tried.
