Rejected, Manchester United's 'golden boy' sends a message to Ruben Amorim

Young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo is currently facing the toughest period of his career as he is repeatedly excluded from Ruben Amorim's plans at Manchester United.

During the international break, instead of enjoying the holidays like many teammates, Mainoo chose to train intensely to regain his form. He went to Spain to work on his fitness at the Complejo Deportivo Arroyo sports center and posted training photos on social media with captions expressing his desire to return to the starting lineup.

However, according to British media, Mainoo’s public display may backfire. Continuously posting training sessions with messages aimed at Amorim is considered to unintentionally put pressure on the Portuguese coach, who is known for being reserved and dislikes showiness. Amorim appreciates his player’s work ethic but believes Mainoo needs to prove himself more on the training ground rather than on social media.

Just over a year ago, Mainoo was regarded as Manchester United’s “golden boy” after playing a key role in winning the FA Cup and even starting in the EURO 2024 final with England. Yet since the start of the 2025/26 season, the 20-year-old midfielder has not once started a Premier League match. This decline also led to his exclusion by coach Thomas Tuchel from the latest England squad.

Mainoo’s chances have become even slimmer as Manchester United were eliminated early from the League Cup and are not participating in European competitions, resulting in fewer fixtures. Amorim is reluctant to take risks on players who have not regained their form. Some sources suggest Mainoo might seek a loan move in January 2026 to keep alive his hopes of playing in the World Cup six months later.

Nonetheless, this possibility remains slim as Manchester United’s leadership, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, remains committed to giving Amorim time to develop his long-term project. This means Mainoo could continue to be sidelined in the Red Devils’ squad at least until the end of the season.

A year after being hailed as England’s most promising young talent, Kobbie Mainoo now finds himself forgotten, caught between two choices: patiently waiting for an opportunity or seeking a way out to save his stalled career at just 20 years old.