Manchester United legends Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt have all urged Kobbie Mainoo to leave the club due to a lack of gametime.
Rio Ferdinand Urges Kobbie Mainoo To Leave Manchester United
Rio Ferdinand has suggested Kobbie Mainoo should leave Manchester United in January.
The 20-year-old has struggled for gametime under Ruben Amorim this term, with supporters and ex-players growing increasingly frustrated with the manager’s treatment of the youngster.
Mainoo, who has been on United’s books since the age of nine, has made 10 appearances in the Premier League this term, with all 10 coming from the bench. His sole start of the campaign came in the shocking penalty shootout defeat by Grimsby in the Carabao Cup second round.
With the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro preferred to the Red Devils academy graduate, it doesn’t look as though his minutes will increase, and he now looks set for a winter exit.
Reports suggest Napoli lead the race to sign Mainoo on loan, as he looks to gain more playing time in an attempt to force his way back into the England reckoning ahead of the World Cup.
His most recent outing came as a 12-minute cameo against Wolves on Monday night.
Speaking on his YouTube podcast, Ferdinand commented on Mainoo’s situation by saying: “If I think about it and put myself in Kobbie Mainoo’s shoes I’m out of there, I’ve got to.
“He was playing for England and [was] one of the best players in the tournament. Not many people can say they’ve done that. He has just wasted 18 months of his career at United.
“He might be saying ‘I love Manchester United too much to go, I want to stay and fight’. But it is going to be two years in the summer. You can’t lose two years in your career. It’s a short career and you have to make decisions that are best for you.
“If I was him I’d say the manager isn’t going to start playing me now. If you’ve not played me in all these matches that have gone before you aren’t going to play me now. Let’s just be honest with each other: I’m surplus to requirements. Get me out of here.”
Paul Scholes Backs Mainoo Exit
Ferdinand isn’t the only United legend that has urged Mainoo to seek a way out of the club, with both Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt doing so too on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast.
“Ruben Amorim has said Kobbie Mainoo is a starter… every appearance he’s made in the Premier League has been as a sub. Things like that wind me up,” Scholes said.
“I wouldn’t mind if he was in a good team and they were winning every week but they’re rubbish. Kobbie is a 20-year-old kid and he’s not playing, he’s going to have to leave.
“Fair enough, as a manger sometimes you just don’t fancy a player. But look at what he’s already done – scored the winner in an FA Cup final, played every game in the Euros.”
The former England midfielder even advised the youngster to join league rivals Chelsea.
“Do you know what? You’d have to advise him to go [to Chelsea], wouldn’t you? If he rang me and said ‘look, Chelsea are interested, what do you think?’ I’d say go all day long.”
Butt, meanwhile, said: “He’s a top, top, top player that we are f****** up. Kobbie has got to go. If I’m looking after him I’m telling him “we’re getting you out of that football club”.
“For his football career he has to leave United, he’s lost 18 months of development. I hope he goes abroad because it’s embarrassing if he goes to Chelsea, which could happen.”
Mainoo could just bide his time, however, as there has been plenty to suggest that he may outlast Amorim at Old Trafford.
His job looks safe for now, but a poor run of results would likely see pressure begin to mount. Oliver Glasner is favoured to replace him in the next Manchester United manager odds market.
United have lost just one of their last nine matches across all competitions.
This is undoubtedly an improvement on the opening weeks of the campaign, but performances have still been concerning. Roy Keane slammed their ‘schoolboy display’ vs West Ham last week.
The Red Devils return to action on Monday night when they host Bournemouth at 20:00.
