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Kobbie Mainoo has played 302 minutes in twelve appearances for Manchester United so far this season; he was only in the starting line-up once in the EFL Cup. The 20-year-old midfielder has been a candidate for a change for weeks and has been devalued twice in market value updates since the summer – from 50 million to currently 40 million euros. Coach Rúben Amorim doesn’t want to hear anything about a permanent departure and has predicted that the Red Devils’ homegrown player will have a great career at the club.
“Kobbie Mainoo will be the future of Manchester United,” said the Portuguese at the press conference before the home game against Newcastle United on Friday evening (9:00 p.m.), the only one on the traditional Boxing Day in the Premier League. “He just has to wait for his chance, because in football everything can change within two days,” said Amorim, for whom only a loan from Mainoo, who is contractually bound until 2027 plus an option, is an option under certain circumstances. “If we don’t find a replacement, it’s hard to let him go. We don’t have enough players.”
Due to injuries such as the one suffered by captain Bruno Fernandes (31) in the 1-2 win against Aston Villa shortly before Christmas, as well as the withdrawals for the Africa Cup of Nations – Amad Diallo (23), Bryan Mbeumo (26) and Noussair Mazraoui (28) – Amorim will be missing numerous players in the coming weeks. Mainoo is also suffering from a calf injury and will not be available for the Newcastle game.
Amorim does not rule out winter arrivals at Man United
Regarding possible winter additions to the seventh-placed team, Amorim was open: “If we have the opportunity to sign a player who we believe represents the future of the club, he will come.” There is a plan for January and Man United will stick to it. “If we can sign a good player. (…) If not, then we will spend money in the summer.”
In the transfer market rumor mill, Bayern’s Leon Goretzka (30), the talents Ayyoub Bouaddi (18, Lille) and Christ Inao Oulaï (19, Trabzonspor) and Atlético’s Conor Gallagher (25) have recently been linked to the English record champions for the central midfield. Mainoo was traded at SSC Napoli, Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur (for the rumor overview).
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