Ruben Amorim Shuts Down Kobbie Mainoo Transfer Speculation with Defiant Declaration
Ruben Amorim provided no guarantees to Kobbie Mainoo following reports suggesting that the Manchester United midfielder has grown "profoundly frustrated" with his limited playing opportunities and is allegedly eager to secure a January loan departure from the club.
The youth product was believed to be keen on pursuing a temporary move during the summer transfer period to secure regular playing time, but United blocked any departure—whether on loan or permanently. The homegrown talent has subsequently found himself relegated to the substitutes' bench.
Mainoo stands as one of merely four senior players who have yet to make a Premier League starting appearance for the Red Devils, accumulating only 171 minutes across nine substitute appearances. The 20-year-old's sole starting opportunity came in the surprising Carabao Cup second round loss to Grimsby Town.
Predictably, Mainoo, who was previously regarded as United's emerging star, has become increasingly frustrated with his limited chances this season, particularly with his position in England's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup now under serious threat.
According to The Athletic, the young talent is "prepared to pursue a loan arrangement" during the January transfer window and is interested in making a move overseas. Bayern Munich are among the clubs that have previously expressed interest, along with Napoli, who acquired Rasmus Højlund on loan during the summer and purchased Scott McTominay from Man Utd in 2024.
The Red Devils are anticipated to delay any decision on Mainoo's future until after the Africa Cup of Nations concludes, with Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo's participation in the tournament limiting Amorim's available squad depth.
United might approve a loan arrangement to maintain Mainoo's market value should they consider a permanent sale in the summer, though they continue to evaluate their alternatives.
Amorim Confident About Mainoo's Role
Amorim has been direct when responding to inquiries about Mainoo's restricted participation, maintaining he's solely focused on fielding the strongest possible lineup following United's 1–1 stalemate with West Ham on Thursday—where Mainoo remained on the bench throughout.
When questioned about his understanding of why Mainoo has become such a prominent discussion topic, Amorim replied: "Naturally I comprehend. My responsibility is to provide answers, but I consistently try to give the same response. And you continuously ask me the identical question.
"I grasp what you're conveying. You admire Kobbie. He features for England, but that doesn't obligate me to [field] Kobbie when I believe I shouldn't [field] Kobbie."
When pressed about whether Mainoo will receive more opportunities during AFCON, Amorim stated: "I'm uncertain. It's the identical inquiry. I don't know what will transpire. It's situational. If I observe in training that it's the optimal decision, I will include [him]. That's the only approach I understand how to address that."