Kobbie Mainoo has revealed that he considered leaving Manchester United at some point under former head coach Ruben Amorim over lack of playing chances.
The England midfielder endured a tough spell under the Portuguese and was usually left out of the squad, with Bruno Fernandes preferred in the midfield role alongside Casemiro in the 3-4-2-1 formation.
Mainoo, who had been a bright star since progressing through the academy, tried to push for a loan move away from the club last summer, but things did not change until Amorim’s departure in January.
When you’re not playing many games, or any games, you consider all things”, Mainoo said.
“But at the forefront of my mind was always to play for Manchester United and continue to play for this club that I’ve grown up at.
“Yeah, when there’s new managers, they have their way that they want to play and if they think you don’t fit that, then you don’t fit that”, he added.
Since the arrival of Michael Carrick in January, Mainoo has developed into a key player for the club and has been part of their resurgence.
From struggling for appearances under Amorim, to becoming an undroppable player for the club, the 21-year-old has overseen remarkable change in fortunes in recent months.
Mainoo also earned a nomination in the PFA young player of the season award, alongside the likes of Eli Kroupi, Rayan Cherki and Nico O’Reilly.
“All I can do is try and work and train to maybe see it in a different light”, Mainoo revealed.
“Going from playing nearly every game to not playing as often is always going to be a difficult adjustment. It was good for me in terms of learning [about] myself, the game, and patience.
“How to schedule my life and how I train and how I work and getting into routines.”
Manchester United defeated Nottingham Forest 3-2 on Sunday and will now conclude their campaign next weekend against Brighton, as they look to seal an impressive season with a win.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
