Kobbie Mainoo: Ruben Amorim wants United ace to improve off-the-ball play | OneFootball

Kobbie Mainoo remains heavily linked with a move away from Manchester United in January after struggling for game-time under Ruben Amorim this season.

The English midfielder has managed just 273 minutes of first-team action this season, and is yet to start a game in the Premier League.

Kobbie Mainoo Stats

Source: Transfermarkt.

Even Manuel Ugarte, who has divided opinion among fans since arriving at the Theatre of Dreams, has recorded more minutes (359) than Mainoo this season.

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Mainoo burst onto the scenes under former manager Erik ten Hag, and it was soon clear that United had a gem on their hands. The 20 year old’s composure, impressive ball control and vision enabled him to break into the national squad, and he even started the Euro 2024 final, which England lost 2-1 to Spain.

Yet all of that appears to be from a different era at the moment, with Ten Hag’s departure putting a dent in Mainoo’s development. The youngster was in and out of the starting XI following Amorim’s arrival last season, but things have taken a turn for the worse this campaign.

The Portuguese head coach has preferred the ageing pair of Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro as his midfield pivot. Amorim’s decision to opt for experience over youth has hurt Mainoo, whose only start this season came in the disappointing defeat to Grimsby Town in the EFL Cup second round.

The Englishman came off the bench in the final minutes of the 4-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this week and with the situation unlikely to change, an exit in the winter looks likely. Journalist Ben Jacobs has now outlined where the player has to improve to convince Amorim.

Mainoo need to be more physical

Speaking on The United Stand, Jacobs said: “Yeah I think the footballing intelligence of Mainoo is the area in which Amorim wants him to work.”

“Specifically what he does, I’m told anyway, off the ball rather than on the ball. What we know about Kobbie Mainoo is that he’s technical, he has strong composure, when he has the ball at his feet he’s intelligent.”

“Amorim wants someone who is more physical and can go into ‘beast mode’ which is what we see from Elliot Anderson. One area that is being worked on with Mainoo, who is very precise with the ball is how he gets the same precision of thought and movement off it.”

A recent report relayed by The Peoples Person states that Mainoo has a strained relationship with Amorim. Meanwhile, Napoli are reportedly eyeing a move for the Englishman in January, although the club’s sporting director, Giovanni Manna, has remained tight-lipped about the matter.

Final Thoughts

United’s need for a physical midfielder is well documented, especially since Casemiro is on the wrong side of 30 and out of contract next summer. Amorim’s demands of Mainoo, as such, are understandable, especially as it appears that he is fighting with Bruno Fernandes for a place in the starting XI.

Meanwhile, Casemiro has also been in inspired form this season, which has hurt the Englishman’s cause. However, with the Brazilian’s future uncertain, it is time Amorim tested the Mainoo-Bruno pivot in midfield. Unless the young midfielder secures regular game-time, he may be forced to consider a new adventure either in January or next summer.

Featured image George Wood via Getty Images

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