Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has delivered a pointed message to young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, insisting there is no shame in being on the bench at Old Trafford and urging him to block out the external 'nonsense' over his future.
Amorim Cites United Legends as Examples
In a bid to placate the unsettled 20-year-old, Amorim pointed to the storied careers of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, and Juan Sebastian Veron, all of whom accepted periods as substitutes during their time with the club. Mainoo has yet to start a Premier League match this season, with all 11 of his appearances coming as a substitute.
"Kobbie needs to fight for his job," stated Amorim. "I think that it's not a bad thing to be on the bench of Manchester United when you are 20-years-old. I remember Ronaldo was on the bench, Rooney was on the bench sometimes, Veron was not playing."
A Potential Chance and Transfer Speculation
The midfielder could be handed a rare start this Sunday against Aston Villa, with Casemiro suspended. However, Mainoo is reportedly keen on a January transfer exit, with Serie A champions Napoli leading the chase for his signature.
Amorim clarified his selection policy, denying any motivational mind games. "I'm not trying to say to Kobbie, 'you are a big player here, let's put him on the bench to show something'. No, what I'm saying is the opposite," he explained. "I'm just not putting Kobbie in sometimes because I understand that this is not the right guy to start the game. Maybe the next game, Sunday, he is going to start."
Ignoring the 'Noise' and Family Drama
The situation has been amplified by off-pitch drama, notably when Mainoo's half-brother, Jordan Mainoo-Hames, wore a 'Free Kobbie Mainoo' T-shirt during Monday's 4-4 draw with Bournemouth. Amorim, drawing on personal experience from his time at Sporting Lisbon, advised ignoring such distractions.
"I had the situation in Sporting Lisbon," Amorim added. "My brother wrote something on the internet, and I have to answer for that. My explanation is that he has his life, he has his opinion, and it's nothing to do with me. So I will do the same with Kobbie."
He concluded with a clear directive for the player: "So let's continue in trying to avoid the nonsense and the noise. I just want to help the team to win and to help Kobbie to be a better player." The message is clear: Mainoo's path back to the United lineup is through performance, not protest.
