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The future of Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo appears to be shrouded in mystery, particularly as rumours about his and the club’s desires swirl around in the media.
Earlier this month, The Peoples Person relayed that Man United manager Ruben Amorim has no intention to let Mainoo feature in the starting lineup anytime soon.
This stance seems to align with a previous report claiming that United are willing to let the English midfielder depart the club in January if they are able to find a suitable replacement.
But while the likes of West Ham United and Napoli seem to have taken an interest in the youngster, should United allow him to depart Old Trafford?
Mainoo’s track record
Not too long ago, Mainoo was a regular starter for United, even establishing himself as one of the most in-form players at the club.
The 20 year old rose to prominence in the 2023/24 season under then-manager Erik ten Hag, starting all 24 of his Premier League games.
That was the season where he really seemed to peak, with 87% passing accuracy, four ball recoveries per game, 58% dribbling, and a 55% win record in ground duels. (Stats via Sofascore)
Compare that to Casemiro, who registered 83% passing, 53% dribbling, and 48% ground duels won that same season. While the Brazilian outperformed Mainoo in ball recoveries (5.3 per game), the Englishman appeared to be stronger with the ball at his feet, making him an obvious choice in the midfield.
The following season, Mainoo’s form started to slip. Still managing 87% passing accuracy, Mainoo’s ball recoveries dropped to 3.5 on average while his dribbling slumped to 48% and ground duels were at 47%. All of a sudden, he did not seem to be as capable of controlling the midfield as previously suggested.
Of course, it cannot be expected that a footballer be at his best every season, especially when he is as young as Mainoo. Also, he had to make a massive adjustment from a more traditional role in Ten Hag’s lineup to Amorim’s unconventional 3-4-2-1 formation, which would understandable take some time.
Unfortunately, still, Mainoo became embroiled in some drama off the pitch as well.
The shakedown
Earlier this year, Mainoo entered talks with United over a new contract, with the youngster reportedly demanding as much as £180,000 per week.
This is clearly a steep sum for anyone, let alone a young player whose best years are ahead of him.
But while there is a possibility that Amorim took issue with Mainoo’s ego and has thus punished him for it, he should be careful when considering how to steer the English talent’s future.
What Amorim should do
While Casemiro appears to be bouncing back this season, as evident in his impressive performance against Brighton last weekend, he is in the later years of his career.
Sure, Bruno Fernandes remains a key driver of United’s success, but even with Casemiro at his side, further reinforcements are needed in case of injuries, fatigue, and other unforeseen circumstances.
Manuel Ugarte seems to be adjusting gradually to Amorim’s setup, but with 85% passing, two ball recoveries per game, and 53% ground duels won, he hasn’t quite hit the heights that Mainoo reached at his peak two seasons ago. (Sofascore)
As a result, it really seems that Amorim should hold onto Mainoo, at least for now.
Sure, there are several transfer targets for the club, but the question is whether it really is worth the cost for United to bring in the likes of Carlos Baleba for a staggering £100 million, which the club doesn’t seem willing to do anyway.
While it’s difficult to know what the relationship dynamic between Amorim and Mainoo is really like, it seems logical for Amorim to build his relationship with Mainoo and develop a place in the squad for him, provided that the player proves to have the right attitude.
After all, it would be a great pity to lose a potential generational talent who could further bolster Amorim’s already-impressive lineup.
Featured image Jan Kruger via Getty Images
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