Amorim Throws Down Ronaldo-Rooney Gauntlet: Mainoo Must Prove His Man Utd Worth
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has urged midfielder Kobbie Mainoo to remain patient, pointing out that even Old Trafford icons such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney experienced periods on the substitutes' bench.
The 20-year-old Mainoo hasn't featured as a starter in Premier League matches this campaign and, following a rejected loan move request over the summer, is anticipated to seek another departure opportunity come January. While another temporary move seems most probable, reports indicate Mainoo might consider a permanent transfer.
The situation has intensified recently when Mainoo's half-sibling wore a shirt displaying "Free Kobbie Mainoo" during the recent 4–4 stalemate against Bournemouth—an action that left former player Roy Keane distinctly unimpressed.
"Kobbie must compete for his position," Amorim emphasized before Sunday's clash with Aston Villa. "I believe it's not necessarily negative to sit on Manchester United's bench at 20 years of age.
"I recall Ronaldo being benched, Rooney was sometimes substituted. [Juan Sebastián] Verón wasn't getting game time. I remember Manchester United's entire history and nobody... So let's keep working to ignore the distractions and commotion. My sole focus is helping the team succeed, assisting Kobbie in becoming an improved player."
Amorim: No Hidden Motives Behind Mainoo Selection
Amorim's handling of Mainoo has become a significant element of his challenging Old Trafford management period. The manager has consistently defended his preference for alternative players, claiming Mainoo's position as an English youth product generates excessive media scrutiny.
Furthermore, Amorim emphasized he isn't attempting to prove anything through his restricted deployment of Mainoo, whom he advised to transform his disappointment into improved pitch performances.
"I'm not attempting to tell Kobbie, 'You're an important player here, let's bench him to demonstrate something'," he clarified. "Absolutely not.
"My message is quite different. I'm simply not selecting Kobbie occasionally because I believe he isn't the appropriate choice to begin the match. Perhaps in the upcoming game on Sunday, he'll get the starting nod.
"Should he perform excellently, he'll prove to everyone, 'This manager cannot remove me from the lineup,' and I'll be delighted, so it doesn't matter to me. I'm not trying to prove anything to anybody. I'm simply stating that I'm attempting to secure victories and demonstrate to players that performing correctly earns playing time regardless of reputation."
United are reportedly extremely hesitant to part with a player whose influence extends beyond his field contributions. Mainoo represents the final academy product in Amorim's first-team roster, and his exit would harm both team spirit and United's effort to maintain their 88-year tradition of including at least one homegrown talent in every matchday selection.