Kobbie Mainoo Admits He Considered Leaving Manchester United During Difficult Spell Under Ruben Amorim

Kobbie Mainoo has acknowledged that he weighed up all options regarding his Manchester United future during a difficult stretch under Ruben Amorim, when the Portuguese manager consistently left the midfielder without playing time.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the 21-year-old was candid about the challenges of transitioning from a near-ever-present under Erik ten Hag to a peripheral figure in Amorim’s system. “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.”

Mainoo’s rise under ten Hag had been one of the standout storylines of the 2023-24 season. Within a year of his debut, he had scored in an FA Cup final and earned an England call-up for Euro 2024 — a trajectory that made his subsequent marginalisation all the more striking. When Amorim arrived at Old Trafford, his preferred tactical setup accommodated only two central midfielders, a structure that left Mainoo frequently on the bench and without minutes.

“Going from playing nearly every game to not playing as often is always going to be a difficult adjustment,” the midfielder reflected. “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.”

Despite the frustration, Mainoo credited the period with offering him a different kind of development. “It was good for me in terms of learning [about] myself, the game, and patience. It’s difficult when you don’t even come on as a sub of course,” he said. The support of those closest to him also proved significant. “My family and my friends helped me see the light at the end of the tunnel. They knew it would swing back my way at some point, so I just had to be patient.”

Amorim was dismissed in January 2026 following a prolonged run of poor results, with his rigid tactical system widely identified as a limiting factor during his tenure. His departure paved the way for Michael Carrick to take charge on an interim basis. Carrick reverted to a three-man midfield, a structural shift that immediately returned Mainoo to the starting eleven.

The change in fortunes has been marked. Mainoo has since signed a new contract at Old Trafford, committing his long-term future to the club, and was influential in a notable victory over Liverpool — a result that underlined his importance to Carrick’s setup.

Mainoo’s situation reflects a broader challenge for young players navigating managerial transitions at elite clubs. His decision to remain and trust in his own ability, rather than seek an exit during his lowest point at United, now appears to have been vindicated as he re-establishes himself as a central figure in the club’s midfield.