One of the underlying narratives to Manchester United’s season is the uncertain future of academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo, who has struggled to cement his place since Ruben Amorim took charge.
Mainoo went from starting in the Euro 2024 final to being overlooked in favour of Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte, and captain Bruno Fernandes in the space of a year. We caught up with former Manchester United defender Paul Parker to discuss Mainoo’s situation and preview United’s upcoming clash with Liverpool at Anfield this weekend.
Are Manchester United Hurting Kobbie Mainoo?
Kobbie Mainoo reportedly considered leaving Manchester United this summer in search of first-team football – a thought that would’ve seemed unthinkable just a year ago. But in football, things change fast. The bright young star can quickly lose his shine when left on the sidelines.
While several clubs expressed interest, United were unwilling to sanction a move under any circumstances. Parker believes that might have been a mistake.
“It would cause big problems if they allow Mainoo to go because he’s a local boy. But it’s not just about that, it’s about what he’s achieved in a short space of time and he hasn’t been given the time and the respect.”
“You’ve got to understand, when you’re younger, losing form can happen quite quickly but it’s about getting it back. When you make mistakes, you nurture, you don’t stamp down on things, you demand but you demand in a different way. He hasn’t been given what a good manager like Sir Alex Ferguson would do with a young player.”
“Maybe they should’ve let him go out on loan and play. Go overseas and experience that little bit to come back again and start again. Especially in this current scenario where you’re not going to use him, let him go and do that.”
Mainoo has earned just one England cap since the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain, yet this season, his only start so far came in United’s shock Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town.
Parker admits he’s disappointed with how little game time the youngster has been afforded.
“To have him just warm the bench, it must be really hurting him. It’s his team, so it must be hurting him that they’re not doing well. It must be hurting him that he’s not playing and he must be scratching his head.”
“Every time, every minute he gets, he’s got to enjoy it and prove himself. When he came on against City, I thought he could win Man Of The Match. He was Man Utd’s best player in that cameo. Everything he did was effective and hurt City.”
“But then after that, nothing. Disappointing from Amorim. I expected more from him in this scenario.”
Napoli are among the clubs said to be monitoring Mainoo’s situation and would reportedly welcome the opportunity to bring him to Italy. Parker admits he would support such a move – even joking that United are serving as a “feeder club” for Napoli.
“You don’t have to fall into the trap of playing a local boy because he’s a local boy. But sometimes when you look at the quality of the player, he went to the Euros and played more football than he or fans expected and he did very well. There’s a talent there that’s not being utilised. It just doesn’t make sense.”
“Don’t call every player elite but Mainoo is a very good player who can play in any position across the Man Utd midfield. He’s a good runner, get him in and around the box. You ask him to sit in midfield and hold, he can do the job and fill space and stop passes from going through.”
“If you ask him to bite, kick and scratch, that’s not really him. Football’s not like that anymore cause if it was Mainoo would have struggled a bit. In today’s game, he’s perfect.”
Amorim Is Making Extraordinary Decisions With Zirkzee and Mainoo
United’s own transfer activity has added further complexity to their squad dynamics. The arrivals of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Šeško have limited chances for last summer’s signing Joshua Zirkzee. With Mason Mount also preferred in advanced roles, Parker believes Amorim’s selections have been puzzling – especially concerning Zirkzee and Mainoo.
“I would like to see Zirkzee get an opportunity. When Sesko hasn’t played, Amorim’s used Mason Mount in and around that area. You look at that and you think Zirkzee is better, he’s more fluid with the ball at his feet when he’s running at people. He can hold up the ball because he’s a strong boy and he’s got good quick feet and he knows how to use his body. He’s a difficult person to dispossess and get around.”
“He just hasn’t been utilised this season. Last season he was always there, either coming on or starting ahead of Højlund. The manager is making some extraordinary decisions in and around midfield where they are seriously lacking.”
“Zirkzee hasn’t been given an opportunity and then we also have to ask why Mainoo hasn’t been used in that midfield. Somewhere along the line because I’ve been looking at it, it has to be personal. It has to be personal and the truth has to be told somewhere. He doesn’t like him or he doesn’t like him as a player. It doesn’t make any sense at all.”
Arne Slot Has To Make Up His Mind On His Attack
Mainoo and Zirkzee will be hoping to make his first Premier League start of the season when United visit Anfield this weekend – a trip that comes as Liverpool endure a shaky spell. While their season has been defined by late winners, recent matches have seen them concede goals in the dying stages.
Parker expects Anfield to be electric and has urged Arne Slot to settle on his best attacking setup – even if that means disappointing some big names.
“When I look at Liverpool, I am not convinced about their team. But this match means a lot and their fans will be going mental. They haven’t been good and the manager has been biting a bit. I would have expected him to be a bit more calm. He is under pressure of course.”
“This match is a very tough one to call. Liverpool still have amazing players, so they could go on and beat Man United comfortably, but Arne Slot has to make his mind up about what his best attack is. That has been their strength for years, but we don’t know it now.”
“It is a big problem for Arne Slot. Who does he leave out? He has put himself in a difficult position, because sometimes you can have too many players to choose from.”
Slot Can’t Trust Wirtz For Manchester United Clash
One Liverpool player yet to find form is Florian Wirtz, who joined the club from Bayer Leverkusen for a staggering £116 million this summer. Despite his immense potential, the German international has struggled to adapt to the Premier League’s pace and intensity.
Parker believes neither Wirtz nor Kerkez have shown enough to justify starting in such a high-stakes fixture.
“I am sure the Liverpool fans will be very, very disappointed about what they have seen from Florian Wirtz. I saw him play for Germany recently and he didn’t show anything. They will be disappointed, but the media won’t say a lot. If it was Antony there would be headlines all over.”
“Liverpool as a team haven’t done much so far. They have played poorly all season but got some late minute wins, but now they have lost some games. I am not sure Arne Slot would trust Wirtz to play in a match like this against Man United.”
“It is the same with Kerkez. Does he trust him? I am looking at Andy Robertson, and he still looks like the same player. Everything about him is amazing and he must be raving up. Why am I not playing? Arne Slot should play him against Man United.”
“Robertson knows what these games are about, Kerkez doesn’t. He might not be ready for it, at least that is what his performances so far tell me.”
