Kobbie Mainoo has made a fresh decision on where he wants to play football this season after the Manchester United midfielder was told to “fight for his place” by Ruben Amorim.
An uncertain future
Eaelier this week, Mainoo asked to leave United on loan before the deadline on September 1 as the 20-year-old wants to pursue more first-team opportunities with the World Cup on the horizon next summer.
United rejected this request with the club adamant the Academy graduate remains an important player in Amorim’s squad, despite the Portuguese coach not handing him a single minute in either of the opening Premier League fixtures.
Mainoo has struggled to find a home in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system, having primarily been played in the midfield pivot, but also trialled as a number ten and even a false nine last season.
Bruno Fernandes has been redeployed as a central midfielder after the signings of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha for the no.10 positions – and Mainoo is ill-suited as a partner for the club captain.
This puts the two players in direct competition for the number eight role, while Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte jostle to play alongside them as the number six.
Fernandes is United’s best player, however, and Amorim’s eyes and ears on the pitch. He will play every game that he is available – and his fitness record is exemplary.
This leaves Mainoo fighting for scraps, such as the starting berth in the Carabao Cup clash with Grimsby Town on Wednesday, where the youngster was a rare bright spot amid an ocean of dreadful performances from his teammates as United went out on penalties.
But United are not in Europe this season – and they have already crashed out of one tournament, with the FA Cup third round not taking place until January.
Mainoo will have very few opportunities to start in midfield for the Red Devils in the immediate future and, based on the first two games of the season, Amorim is even reluctant to use him as an option from the bench.
It’s clear therefore why Mainoo has requested an exit, if only temporarily, from his boyhood club.
Mainoo asks again
Speaking in a press-conference yesterday, Amorim was asked about Mainoo’s situation. He reiterated that the midfielder would have to “fight for his place” but stressed he wanted Mainoo to stay.
Around a similar time, however, England manager Thomas Tuchel announced his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia. Mainoo was not included in this with the only United player who made the cut being one not even currently at Old Trafford in Marcus Rashford.
This omission is likely to have resharpened Mainoo’s focus on the World Cup in the United States next summer and hammered home the reality that he will not make the plane if he is sat on the bench.
Fabrizio Romano reveals the midfielder has “asked again…to go on loan in the final 48h of the summer window” but was met with a firm response by the club: “no chance”.
🚨 Kobbie Mainoo asked again to Manchester United about chance to go on loan in the final 48h of the summer window.
Kobbie insists despite Amorim’s words in press conference and Man United clear reply.#MUFC insist on no chance for exit and plan to keep Mainoo. pic.twitter.com/CvBoYDsKGW
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 30, 2025
Tweet: “Kobbie Mainoo asked again to Manchester United about chance to go on loan in the final 48h of the summer window. Kobbie insists despite Amorim’s words in press conference and Man United clear reply. #MUFC insist on no chance for exit and plan to keep Mainoo.”
It feels extremely unlikely that Mainoo will leave before the window slams shut on Monday night – but the fact it’s even a possibility is a damning indictment on both the club and Amorim’s handling of the situation.
Feature image Michael Regan via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
