Man Utd and Ruben Amorim holding up Kobbie Mainoo’s Napoli move | OneFootball

The pursuit of Kobbie Mainoo has taken a significant turn, with the Manchester United midfielder reportedly giving his “OK” to a move to Napoli. According to a report from Corriere dello Sport (relayed by AreaNapoli), the 19-year-old has identified the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona as the ideal destination to relaunch his career, following the successful footsteps of former Premier League exports Scott McTominay and Rasmus Højlund.

Despite Mainoo’s willingness to embrace Antonio Conte’s project, several major hurdles remain before a deal can be finalized. The primary obstacle is Manchester United’s rigid stance; the Premier League giants are currently blocking the departure, with manager Ruben Amorim reportedly hesitating to sanction the exit of the English international mid-season.

While Mainoo has seen his minutes limited under the new manager, United are wary of weakening their midfield rotation during a crucial stretch of the campaign.

Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna remains keen, carefully monitoring the situation as the club looks to bolster a midfield that Conte considers short due to injuries. However, the Partenopei also face external complications, including intensifying competition from other top clubs and internal financial considerations regarding Italy’s liquidity index.

With Mainoo having already signaled his approval for the transfer, the ball is now firmly in the court of the two clubs. Napoli are hopeful that the player’s desire to join them will eventually force a breakthrough, but for now, the rigid resistance from Old Trafford and Amorim’s tactical uncertainty are keeping the deal on ice.

Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN