Kobbie Mainoo, a promising young player at Manchester United, has changed his mind and decided to stay and continue fighting with the club, although he had previously wanted to leave to gain more playing time.
On 2 Jan 2025 GMT+7, Kobbie Mainoo, a 20-year-old English rising midfielder, decided to change his mind and stay on to fight for his place at Manchester United, despite previously considering leaving to seek more consistent playing opportunities.
Earlier reports indicated that the working relationship between Mainoo and the team's manager, Rúben Amorim, became tense from the start of the season. The situation drew more attention when Mainoo’s half-brother appeared at Old Trafford wearing a T-shirt reading 'Free Kobbie Mainoo.'
However, Manchester United blocked Mainoo’s loan transfer request during the last summer transfer window. Additionally, a period of injury for Mainoo, combined with the absence of Bruno Fernandes due to a hamstring muscle injury, clearly reduced the chances of a mid-season move.
Despite some friction, a close source who has known Mainoo since youth levels confirmed that the player remains highly determined and wants to prove himself at the club that developed him.
Mainoo’s last start in the first team dates back to the League Cup shock defeat to Grimsby Town, a League Two side, in August.
Mainoo’s contract with Manchester United runs until 2027, with the club holding an option to extend it by an additional year.