By Martin Graham
In August 2024, Paul Scholes described Kobbie Mainoo as “poetry in motion” and even likened his elegance on the ball to Zinedine Zidane. At that time, the midfielder was viewed as the future of Manchester United.
Mainoo had burst into the spotlight during the 2023–24 campaign after playing only three matches the previous season. He became a key figure for Erik ten Hag, making 32 appearances and scoring the decisive goal in the FA Cup final against Manchester City.
His rapid rise earned him a place in England’s Euro 2024 squad, where he gradually became an important part of Gareth Southgate’s side and started in the final. Despite defeat to Spain, he appeared unfazed by the big stage and seemed destined for more success.
However, expectations soared too high. Many assumed he would transform United almost single-handedly, an unrealistic hope for a player still learning his craft. When the team’s fortunes collapsed during the 2024–25 season, his own form dipped alongside them, and his role shrank as confidence faded.
Struggling in Amorim’s formation
Ruben Amorim’s arrival further complicated Mainoo’s situation. The manager relies on a 3-4-2-1 system built around two central midfielders, a setup that has not suited Mainoo’s natural game.
He has played in a variety of roles but looks most comfortable as a roaming No.8 – something Amorim’s structure lacks. Instead, one midfield place has gone to Casemiro as a defensive shield, while the other has largely been filled by Bruno Fernandes, leaving little room for Mainoo to break through.
Last season he made 37 appearances, yet only 23 were starts, and he averaged just 56 minutes per game. He sought a loan move during the summer to gain more playing time, but the club blocked the idea, leaving him stuck on the fringes of the squad.
Battling injuries and lost rhythm
Injuries have also hindered his momentum. He missed the start of the 2023–24 season with an ankle issue and endured two further spells out last year, sidelined for 17 matches in total.
These absences disrupted any rhythm he tried to build. When Amorim took charge, Mainoo was just returning from injury and then suffered another setback in April. Others moved ahead of him in the hierarchy, and from April onward he started only four matches.
He was reduced to a stoppage-time cameo in the Europa League final, as Amorim turned instead to Joshua Zirkzee and Alejandro Garnacho in search of a goal.
Staying fit will be vital for him this season, though with no European matches on the calendar, there will be fewer chances to stake his claim. The talent is still there, but whether United and Amorim are the right platform for him is now uncertain.
