Ruben Amorim sees Kobbie Mainoo as 'Man Utd future' despite transfer talk

The England international has struggled for game time this season, featuring for less than 300 minutes across all competitions. He has not started a Premier League match since United's Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town in August, sparking speculation over a possible loan move.

But Amorim poured cold water on any exit talk. "Kobbie Mainoo has played in different positions," he said. "He can do Casemiro's position. He can play if we play with three, he can play like we played in the last game at Aston Villa. The position of Mason Mount in that game, he can play there."

Amorim added: "He is going to be the future of Manchester United. That is my feeling. He just needs to wait for his chance. In football, everything can change in two days."

Mainoo has been linked with a loan move to Napoli, where he would reunite with former teammates Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund.

But Amorim suggested the midfielder could stay at Old Trafford for the rest of the 2025-26 season. "It's going to be hard for someone to leave the club if we don't get a substitution," he said. "We are short. Even with the full squad, we are short for something that can happen."

United face a challenging period, with injuries to Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire, while Amad, Noussair Mazraoui, and Bryan Mbuemo are at AFCON. Youngsters Jack Fletcher and Shea Lacey made their senior debuts against Aston Villa, with Amorim insisting the club will stick to its plan.

"We are struggling in this moment, but the club has a plan, and we are going to stick with the plan," he said. "If we have the opportunity to bring a player that we think is going to be the future of the club, he is going to come. If not, we have Jack, we have Shea, in three weeks we'll have Amad, Noussair, and Bryan, and the return of Bruno and Kobbie Mainoo."