Amorim Defends Mainoo Snub as Loan Exit Looms

Ruben Amorim has pushed back hard against criticism over his handling of Kobbie Mainoo, insisting England’s status means nothing when team selection is on the line. The Manchester United manager made it clear that reputation will not influence his decisions, even with growing noise around the young midfielder’s lack of minutes.

Mainoo, just 20, has not started a single Premier League match this season. He has managed only 171 league minutes and was left as an unused substitute in the 1–1 draw with West Ham on Thursday. The situation marks a sharp shift from where he stood 17 months ago, when he started the Euro 2024 final for England and looked like United’s next midfield cornerstone.

Speaking to media, Amorim dismissed the idea that Mainoo’s international standing should force his hand. “You love Kobbie; he starts for England. But that doesn’t mean that I need to put Kobbie in when I feel that I shouldn’t,” he said. The message was simple: shirt name means nothing, performances mean everything.

The timing of this standoff matters. Mainoo is now actively pushing for a January loan move, desperate for consistent football to keep himself in England’s long-term plans ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Napoli are strongly linked, while clubs in the Premier League and Bundesliga are monitoring his situation. For a player once seen as untouchable, the fact loans are even being discussed shows how quickly things have shifted.

Amorim’s reasoning centers on midfield competition. Bruno Fernandes remains undroppable, Casemiro’s presence still carries weight when fit, and Manuel Ugarte has been rotated through opportunities. Amorim framed it as a ruthless meritocracy. “I just want to win. I try to put the players; I don’t look at who it is, and I don’t care about that,” he said, backing his belief that team balance comes before reputation.

There is also a tactical angle to Mainoo’s struggle. Amorim has leaned towards dynamic, high-intensity midfielders who can cover ground quickly and protect transitions. Mainoo’s strengths lie in control and composure rather than chaos management. That profile might not currently fit the manager’s preferred rhythm, which helps explain the minutes drying up.

However, a twist could be coming. United are set to lose Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and Noussair Mazraoui when the Africa Cup of Nations kicks off later this month. That will thin the squad significantly and naturally open up rotation possibilities. In theory, this should be Mainoo’s window.

Yet Amorim did little to offer reassurance. When asked directly if Mainoo could benefit from those absences, his response was blunt. “I don’t know. It depends. I’ve seen the training. If it’s the best thing for the team, I will put him in,” he said.

For United, the stakes are high. Lose Mainoo on loan in January, and they risk strengthening a rival and stalling a long-term asset. Keep him out for minutes, and they risk damaging a player once viewed as a generational talent. For Mainoo, the question is even sharper: stay and fight in a system that currently does not trust him, or leave and gamble that games elsewhere will revive both his club and international future.

Either way, this story is moving fast, and January might decide whether Mainoo’s United chapter pauses or starts to close.