Amorim in Man Utd CIVIL WAR as wonderkids drop cryptic response

Cameron Smith

• 15 Dec 2025 14:46 GMT
• 4 min read

News

Ruben Amorim is embroiled in a bizarre civil war with several Manchester United youngsters following a controversial press conference in which he took aim at the club’s academy graduates.

The Red Devils boss has continuously been asked about Kobbie Mainoo’s lack of game time so far this season and he appeared to reach breaking point when speaking to reporters ahead of his side’s clash against Bournemouth on Monday evening.

Current ETV

Kobbie Mainoo

M, DM (C)

Man Utd

Kobbie Mainoo

M, DM (C)

Man Utd

€60.9M

ETV Range

€54.8M - €67M

View full profile

In the process, Amorim made the strange decision to also criticise fellow youngsters Toby Collyer, Harry Amass and Chido Obi.

“Kobbie Mainoo plays in the same position as Bruno Fernandes, and it's difficult to take him off the team,” Amorim admitted.

“Of course I rate Kobbie Mainoo. But in the end, it’s going to be the training, the games. Of course, he’s not playing so many games, but Kobbie has had opportunities, especially last year. Everyone has.

“Toby went to West Bromwich and he’s not playing. He played for Manchester United. So sometimes it’s not because he’s from the academy or whatever.

“Amass is now struggling in the Championship. Chido is not always a starter in the Under-21s. All these guys played when a lot of people were saying ‘sack the manager’.”

Harry Amass and Chido Obi drop cryptic messages

Amass and Obi have both responded to Amorim’s comments with cryptic messages on Instagram, although they have since removed their posts.

The former posted an image of him collecting Sheffield Wednesday’s Player of the Month award for November, while Obi uploaded an image of him celebrating a goal he scored for Man Utd’s U21 side.

Amass has been a standout performer since his arrival on loan at Sheffield Wednesday on Transfer Deadline Day and he has played the entire 90 minutes in each of their last 14 Championship matches.

Meanwhile, Obi has scored five goals and provided two assists in 13 matches for Man Utd’s youth sides this campaign, although he has been named as a substitute in their four most recent Premier League 2 fixtures.

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