Kobbie Mainoo’s struggles at Manchester United highlighted as brother shows support
Kobbie Mainoo’s uncertain position at Manchester United was thrust into the spotlight at Old Trafford on Monday night when the midfielder’s brother, Love Island alumnus Jordan Mainoo-Hames, was spotted wearing a shirt emblazoned with the message “Free Kobbie Mainoo” during the dramatic 4–4 draw with Bournemouth, reports BritPanorama.
The gesture, prominently displayed to broadcast media, underscores the growing frustration around the 20-year-old’s lack of opportunities under head coach Ruben Amorim. Mainoo has struggled for minutes this season, failing to start a Premier League match and managing just 212 minutes of league action, despite being regarded as one of the brightest products of United’s academy in recent years.
Amorim faces increasing scrutiny regarding his management of the England international, with club legends Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes, and Nicky Butt questioning Mainoo’s marginalisation in recent weeks. The criticism has intensified amid reports suggesting that Mainoo is once again considering a loan move when the January transfer window opens, having been denied a temporary exit last summer.
Jordan Mainoo-Hames’s statement in the stadium was interpreted as a clear challenge to Amorim’s tactical decisions. Mainoo made a short appearance from the bench in the second half of the match, further highlighting his ongoing exclusion from the starting lineup.
Amorim has publicly maintained that Mainoo has not fully capitalised on the chances given to him, asserting that reputation alone will not guarantee selection. The United head coach has also made it clear that youth alone is no assurance for advancement at the club, voicing his opinions on other academy players such as Toby Collyer, Chido Obi, and Harry Amass.
In light of the ongoing situation, Ferdinand, Scholes, and Butt have suggested that Mainoo’s development could stagnate without regular football, implying that a loan move might be the best course of action. Amorim, however, has reframed these criticisms, suggesting they stem from a disconnect between past glories and the current realities of managing Manchester United.
“Sometimes they don’t have all the information and they see Manchester United with the standards that they lived here, always winning,” he said ahead of the Bournemouth match. “So it’s hard for them to see their club in this situation.”
As for Mainoo’s future, interest from Napoli has been noted. The Serie A side were his preferred destination during the summer window when United blocked a loan move, and they are expected to renew their interest in January. Amorim confirmed that recent discussions about a potential exit had not taken place but emphasised the need to balance individual ambitions with team tactics.
“No, I didn’t speak with him, not about that,” Amorim remarked regarding Mainoo’s future discussions. “The team comes first, and I will be really pleased if Kobbie comes to talk to me about that.” Such sentiments resonate with the complexities of youth development in elite football, a reminder that talent alone isn’t always enough to secure a pathway into the first team. With the January window on the horizon, Mainoo’s next steps could prove critical in defining his playing career amidst Manchester United’s tumultuous path.
