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Manchester United starlet could re-demand exit amid sporadic appearances

Originally posted on We All Follow United
By Shrishh Attavar | Last updated Sep 27, 2025 9:19 PM ET

Kobbie Mainoo has done everything short of knocking down Ruben Amorim’s office door to earn a starting spot, yet he is still waiting for his first Premier League start of the season. After slipping behind senior options in midfield, the 19-year-old has doubled down off the pitch. He has hired a new private chef, brought in a personal coach during the international break and is clearly intent on forcing his way up the pecking order with one eye on the 2026 World Cup.

That is as per Manchester Evening News. United rejected his loan request in the summer and, to his credit, his response has been professional. But patience only stretches so far when you are fit, ambitious and watching from the bench most weeks. Mainoo sat unused against Arsenal and Fulham, came on late against Burnley, Chelsea and City and has only started against Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup.

Amorim has challenged him very publicly. Before the derby with City, the manager spoke at length about Mainoo’s development and made it clear he is directly competing with Bruno Fernandes for one of the two midfield roles. Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte fight for the other slot. In practical terms, that means Mainoo is competing with United’s undroppable captain, making his wait all the more frustrating. In certain ways, that is unfortunate as given his talent, the 20-year-old can easily make a case for replacing Ugarte in the lineup. Notwithstanding the fact that even Casemiro is a dying stock.

Main-oo Man to Side Piece?

Last weekend against Chelsea was a clear opportunity. Matheus Cunha had only just returned from injury and was on the bench, so Amorim could have pushed Fernandes higher and used Mainoo deeper. Instead, Fernandes partnered Casemiro, and Mainoo watched on. Casemiro’s late red card has blown the door back open.

With the Brazilian suspended for the trip to Brentford, Amorim has a decision to make: stick with Fernandes and Ugarte, or finally give Mainoo the start he has earned in the eyes of many supporters. Ugarte provides more defensive cover, but Mainoo is the cleaner passer and better at controlling the rhythm of a match.

Away at the Gtech, that control could matter more than another spoiler. Who knows what this trip away might bring us. Hopefully, last week’s result against a certain London club might be replicated, but only time will tell.

If Amorim sticks to his hierarchy again and leaves Mainoo on the bench, the conversation will only intensify. The academy graduate has done the graft and shown the attitude. United’s midfield has hardly been flawless. There comes a point where you stop talking about potential and start giving a player the grass time to prove it. Clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid are true poachers, and you would not want them to sniff a chance at the player who lives and breathes the Red of Manchester.

This article first appeared on We All Follow United and was syndicated with permission.

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