Kobbie Mainoo ‘bothered’ by two Man Utd team-mates

Robin Bairner

11 Dec 2025 07:24 GMT
4 min read

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

Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo’s January exit from the club is being sealed by two team-mates who he is “bothered” by.

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Mainoo has struggled to win any game time under Ruben Amorim this season, with the England international star yet to make a start in the Premier League. His substitute appearances, meanwhile, have been fleeting.

The 20-year-old is itching to receive first-team football, and he believes he is the one player in the squad who has not been given a proper chance by Amorim.

Current ETV

Kobbie Mainoo

M, DM (C)

Man Utd

Kobbie Mainoo

M, DM (C)

Man Utd

ETV Range

€56.4M - €69M

This feeling has been amplified in recent weeks when seeing Joshua Zirkzee and Ayden Heaven get more game time, TeamTalk reports. These two players featuring more regularly has “bothered” him.

Even with Zirkzee’s integration into the starting XI largely coming about because of a knee injury to Benjamin Sesko, it is claimed that Mainoo sees this as “further proof” he will not be given an opportunity under Amorim.

As such, the player increasingly wants to leave in January.

Kobbie Mainoo: How close is he to leaving Man Utd?

Mainoo is only pushing to leave on loan, which is strategic to allow him to challenge for a World Cup place. This is a smart move. Despite 12 teams reportedly interested in him, none are as suited to him as Man Utd, according to research from FootballTransfers.

Napoli’s move for Mainoo seems to be advancing, according to reports in Italy, yet there are still doubts over whether a deal will be sanctioned.

Amorim lacks depth beyond him in the centre of the midfield and is reluctant to allow this to go. This is the same reason that his request for a loan move was rejected in the summer.

TeamTalk adds that Mainoo “realises he will have to play his own role” to force through a deal, although it is stress that there are “no suggestions he’ll do anything drastic”.

Napoli, meanwhile, are ready to move for Mainoo as early as possible in January as they face something of a midfield injury crisis with Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Billy Gilmour both on the sidelines.

He will doubtless be aware of the impact a move to Serie A has had on rejuvenating the career of Scott McTominay.

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