Kobbie Mainoo stalls on committing to Manchester United future

For the Old Trafford faithful, Kobbie Mainoo was supposed to be the one “untouchable” asset in an era of constant upheaval.

The Stockport-born prodigy didn’t just break into the first team under Erik ten Hag; he redefined it.

From his clinical winner in the 2024 FA Cup Final to his composed performances for England on the road to the Euro 2024 Final, Mainoo established himself as a generational talent with 80 senior appearances and a reputation for “ice in the veins” composure.

However, the arrival of Ruben Amorim turned a fairytale rise into a tactical nightmare.

Despite the Portuguese coach publicly praising Mainoo as the “future of Manchester United”, his team sheets told a much bleaker story.

Mainoo was effectively frozen out, failing to start a single Premier League match under Amorim this season.

The manager’s insistence on a high-intensity, rigid wing-back system left the creative midfielder sidelined, with Amorim often critiquing the youngster’s physical profile in favour of more combative options.

By December 2025, the frustration had reached a breaking point.

Napoli boss Antonio Conte was reportedly ready to pounce, offering Mainoo a lifeline in Serie A alongside former teammate Scott McTominay.

For the first time, Mainoo was seriously exploring an exit, convinced his development was being suffocated.

But following Amorim’s sacking last Monday, the midfielder is now at a crossroads, demanding more than just empty promises before he commits his future to the next regime.

Negotiations for a bumper new contract, which were expected to be a formality, have reportedly stalled at an early stage as Kobbie Mainoo continues to stall, according to The Sun.

Adding fuel to the fire is a lingering dispute over Mainoo’s contract.

Despite his status as an established England international, he is still believed to be earning a relatively modest £25,000 a week.

The core of Mainoo’s frustration lies in a fundamental clash of philosophies.

Sources close to the player suggest that the coaching staff attempted to “reprogram” the natural instincts that made him a star.

A source revealed the depth of the friction: “Kobbie was frustrated under Amorim because he felt like he broke into the first team and gained a lot of success playing one way. Then suddenly Amorim started telling him he needed to play in a completely different way, which wasn’t to his strengths.”