United, what are you doing? From 'next Zidane' to 'you're free to leave'
Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 26.08.25. | 16:43
The Manchester side reportedly gave up on one of their biggest talents, Kobbie Mainoo, as the manager, Ruben Amorim, prefers other midfielders over him
At the beginning of the previous season, Kobbie Mainoo was pronounced one of the greatest talents Man United has ever had. Apart from minor injury issues, the 2024/2025 campaign was individually fantastic for him, as he was a regular under both Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim.
Rio Ferdinand compared him to Clarence Seedorf, Nemanja Vidic saw the new Luka Modric in him, and Louis Saha drew a parallel between him and Barcelona's iconic duo, Xavi and Sergio Busquets.
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For Gary Lineker, he was similar to Jude Bellingham, Dimitar Berbatov compared him to Paul Scholes, while Scholes himself wrote on Instagram, "Read a few comparisons between me and this kid. Don't waste your time, he is 10 times the player I was at 19," and said Mainoo resembled Zinedine Zidane.
And after all these big words and all the praise, the midfielder is on the Old Trafford exit door! Just a year later!
Kobbie Mainoo is open to leaving Manchester United.
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) August 26, 2025
Head coach Ruben Amorim seems to prefer other midfielders, and the England international has entered the final 24 months of his Old Trafford contract.
The issue is where Mainoo goes, as there do not appear to be many options… pic.twitter.com/vWcZESF6lk
Namely, according to The Athletic's renowned journalist David Ornstein, Ruben Amorim prefers other players in Mainoo's position, and the 20-year-old has no other option but to seek refuge somewhere else. And he'll undoubtedly have a bunch of sides to choose from since The Guardian claims that at least ten teams have been alerted to his situation.
Even Amorim himself confirmed Mainoo's status, talking to the media after United's draw against Fulham, even though just last month he said he had big plans for the youngster.
"He's fighting for the position now with Bruno and I change two midfielders. So he (Mainoo) just needs to fight for the position with Bruno, as [it] should be at Manchester United. He's going to play with Bruno, but at the moment he's fighting in training with Bruno for the position," the Portuguese said via The Sun.
🚨🗣 - Ruben Amorim's response last month when asked about his plans for Kobbie Mainoo this season:
— UF (@UtdFaithfuls) August 26, 2025
"I have big plans [for Mainoo].
"He's a big talent... I think he needs to increase the rhythm, the pace."
[@StretfordPaddck]pic.twitter.com/lDIsjc3TdF
And when the coach tells you you have to fight with the team's captain and best player for the place in the XI, the message is clear: it's a battle you cannot win. And Mainoo understood it.
What's not easily understandable is the Red Devils move and the decision to sell the teenager who could be the club's future and was considered an exceptional prospect just a year ago.
Since he debuted for the senior squad in January 2023, Mainoo has made 72 appearances for United and scored seven goals. However, at the beginning of the new EPL campaign, he remained an unused substitute against both Arsenal and Fulham.
