Kobbie Mainoo’s Man Utd relationship at ‘breaking point’ – here’s why

Robin Bairner

19 Dec 2025 13:28 GMT
4 min read

Kobbie Mainoo, Ruben Amorim, Man Utd, 2025/26 — © IMAGO

Kobbie Mainoo is more determined than ever to leave Manchester United during the January transfer window, with the midfielder’s relationship with manager Ruben Amorim at “breaking point”.

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Mainoo has yet to start a Premier League match this season under the Portuguese and believes that his only chance of regular football means moving away from Old Trafford.

He has been reduced to minutes off the bench in England’s top-flight this season, having had a request to leave on loan in the summer turned down.

Current ETV

Kobbie Mainoo

M, DM (C)

Man Utd

Kobbie Mainoo

M, DM (C)

Man Utd

ETV Range

€54.8M - €67M

While Mainoo is once again eager to depart on loan, Amorim is reticent to sanction a move due to a lack of depth in his squad.

But the Portuguese faces an increasingly significant problem as his relationship with Mainoo grows increasingly frosty, according to the Daily Mail.

Two reasons why Kobbie Mainoo is so angry

Mainoo’s relationship with Man Utd is at “breaking point”, with the 20-year-old dissatisfied on several levels.

It is claimed that he sees “no future” for himself under Amorim and is willing to consider options to leave the club permanently in January.

On top of this, he is angered by his contract situation. His current agreement with the Red Devils runs until 2027, with the club possessing an additional one-year option. He only earns £40,000 a week – a figure that is claimed to be only a third of his true valuation.

© IMAGO - Kobbie Mainoo: Frustrated by his lack of game time and poor wages at Man Utd

Amorim, meanwhile, insists that he will not overlook Mainoo in the correct circumstances.

“Maybe if you play with three midfielders, not with just two, but with three, Kobbie will have more minutes,” he said. “Of course, he's not playing so many games, but Kobbie has had opportunities, especially last year. I also just want to win and if he's the right guy, I will put him in.”

What now for Mainoo?

Mainoo’s situation and immediate future is unclear due to United’s reluctance to allow him to leave.

External pressure is building, though. His half-brother appeared at Old Trafford on Monday wearing a T-shirt declaring: “Free Kobbie Mainoo” in a move that further heightened tension between the player and the club.

But that, it is claimed, is not entirely representative of the player’s camp, many of whom are more circumspect.

Nevertheless, Mainoo believes that he has “little option” now but to leave Man Utd in order to make his way in the game, frustrated by having been continually overlooked by Amorim.

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