Ruben Amorim says he is willing to talk to Koby Mainu about his future at Manchester United if the midfielder still wants to leave on loan in January.
Mainu, who requested a temporary move in the summer, has yet to start a Premier League game this season, despite United’s head coach saying after the 4-1 win over Wolves that he sees the academy graduate “as a starter like any other player”.
Amorim’s treatment of Maynou has infuriated club legends Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand and Nicky Butt, who all say the 20-year-old should leave United rather than waste his career waiting for an opportunity.
Mainu started for England at the Euro 2024 finals in July 2024, but due to lack of playing time, he was left out of the squad under manager Thomas Tuchel, and there are reports that he is hoping to join Napoli on loan with the aim of being included in the World Cup squad.
Asked if he would approve a loan move in January if Mainu requested it, Amorim said: “If Koby comes to me and talks to me, I will talk to him.”
“I’m not going to say anything to Koby, but I would really appreciate it if Koby would come and talk to me about it. I just want the players to be happy and understand that everyone has their own goals. Frustration doesn’t help anyone.”
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Can Mainu play in Casemiro’s position?
Amorim insists that Mainu’s reduced role is solely due to the fact that he is competing with Bruno Fernandes for the starting spot, who he says is “really difficult to leave out of the team”.
United captain Fernandes has started every league game, but he has only been sent off early twice, in the 87th minute against Chelsea and in the 85th minute against Liverpool, underscoring how limited Maynou’s opportunities to play in that position are.
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Highlights of the Premier League match between Wolves and Manchester United.
Amorim believes Mainu has the attributes to fill another role in Casemiro’s usual midfield duo, but says the 20-year-old needs to think more about his defensive role if he is to take ownership of his defense in a team with so many attackers.
“He can play in that position, but it can be difficult at times,” Amorim said live on Sky Sports ahead of United’s match against Bournemouth on Monday Night Football.
“If you look at our team with (Mateus) Cunha, Brian (Mbeumo), Bruno (Fernandes), you say number 10 and sometimes Koby Mainu, you have to think I’m the guy who blocks transitions.
“He needs to spend more time there, but he could be in that position in the future. So we don’t know what will happen.”
“Casemiro proved he can change my mind.”
Koby Mainu struggles for minutes at Manchester United
Casemiro had to work hard to convince Amorim to become a regular starter after losing his place to academy midfielder Toby Collier at the start of last season.
Collier was on loan at West Brom this season and struggled to feature in the Championship, but was sidelined with injury and is currently undergoing treatment at United.
“(Toby Collier) came from the academy, played here, went to West Bromwich and hasn’t played,” said Amorim, who has faced criticism for using the academy.
“He played for Manchester United, so sometimes it’s not about whether he’s from the academy or not. That’s the situation that happened.”
Asked if he actually rates Mainu, Amorim said: “Of course, like everyone else. The problem is that we play with two (in midfield) and you all look at Koby in a different way than I do.”
“Maybe if we played three midfielders instead of just two, Coby could get more minutes. Imagine this happening. Someone in front would be out of position. Sometimes it’s instantaneous.”
“I think we’ve shown that if you change your mind you can[get into the team]. Casemiro is the biggest example of that. He was behind Toby and now he’s a starter.”
Amorim added: “The door is open for any player to change my mind, but at the end of the day it’s training and games. Of course he hasn’t played that many games, but Cobbs had his chances, especially last year.”
“I’m just looking at the team and trying to win the next game. I’m going to do that until the end.”
“Cobbs is another player who I understand all the interest in. I understand how important it is. The hopes you guys and the English players have. I just want to win too. If he’s the right player, I’ll bring him in. No problem.”
Everything Amorim said about Mainu
Quite a few players have expressed their opinions about Koby Mainu over the past few days. I don’t want to hear any more about Mainu, but how frustrating is it for you when former players and pundits express opinions like this?
“I think that’s normal. As Manchester United manager, I think it’s true that we haven’t achieved that. We should have won more points, especially this season. So I think it’s natural.”
“Sometimes they don’t have all the information so they look at Manchester United on the basis that they have lived here and have always won. So it’s difficult for them to look at their club in this situation.”
“I can talk about Coby every press conference. Sometimes it’s hard to talk after the game. It’s always the same situation for me. It’s the same for everyone.”
“For you guys, I know you have players that you believe in very much and I believe in them very much, but sometimes they have to make a choice.
“In these games we are playing two midfielders, which could change in the future. But Coby is playing in the same position as Bruno Fernandes. It is sometimes really difficult to leave Bruno Fernandes out of the team. That is the only reason.”
If Mainu came to you and said he wanted (a loan) in January, would you accept that given how little playing time he’s getting?
“First of all, the team comes first. If Coby comes to me and talks to me, I’ll talk to him.
“I’m not going to say anything to Koby, but I would really appreciate it if Koby would come and talk to me about it. I just want the players to be happy and understand that they each have their own goals. Frustration doesn’t help anyone.”
“But again, the focus is on this match. Let’s see if it happens.”
Did he not have any real conversations this season in terms of venting his frustrations?
“Not really about that. I had some conversations with him and other players, especially last year. But on that subject, no, I didn’t talk to him.”
Are you a manager who wants your players to talk about it?
“I’m totally open to it, I think that’s clear.
“What I can’t promise… is that I have my own ideas. That’s clear too. If you don’t believe me, I’m open to talking to any player. I would love that.”
Casemiro can be sent off after 65 minutes, so maybe Mainu can’t play in Casemiro’s position…?
“Yes, he can do it. Against West Ham it was Manu (Ugarte) who came for Bruno’s position. Bruno went up because I felt it was going to be a long ball and a second ball with 10 minutes left. I was thinking about that.”
“I think it was against Everton, I took Casemiro out and put Coby in because we were trying to play a different game.
“He can play in that position, but sometimes it’s difficult. If you look at the team with Cunha, Brian, Bruno and what you call a No. 10, sometimes Koby Mainu, I have to think of him as a guy who blocks transitions. All these things.”
“He needs to spend more time there, but he could be in that position in the future, so we don’t know what will happen.
“Because of Toby and the injury, he’s coming back here. He’s from the academy and he used to play here. He went to West Bromwich and hasn’t played. He played for Manchester United, so sometimes it’s not because he’s from the academy or anything like that. That’s the situation that happened.”
“I don’t know what the future holds. We’ll see after this game.”
How do you rate Mainu as a soccer player?
“Of course, just like everyone else. The problem is, we’re playing together and you look at Coby differently than I do.
“Maybe if we played three midfielders instead of just two, Coby could get more minutes. Imagine this happening. Someone in front would be out of position. Sometimes it’s instantaneous.”
“I think we’ve shown that if you change your mind you can[get into the team]. Casemiro is the biggest example of that. He was behind Toby and now he’s a starter.”
In that regard, why don’t you just be more proactive and come to him and say, “Head coach, what do I have to do?” What parts of your game need improvement?
“It’s like any other player. The door is open for any player to change my mind, but at the end of the day it’s training and games. Of course he hasn’t played that many games, but Cobbs had his chances, especially last year. Everyone had (their chances).”
“Everyone was like that, especially last year. (Harry) Amasu is struggling in the Championship now. Chido (Obi) is not always a starter in the Under-21s. They were all playing when a lot of people were saying to sack the manager. You can see I’m not worried. Everyone (said that) back then.”
“I’m just looking at the team and trying to win the next game. I’m going to do that until the end.”
“Cobbs is another player who I understand all the interest in. I understand how important it is. The hopes you guys and the English players have. I just want to win too. If he’s the right player, I’ll bring him in. No problem.”
