Kobbie Mainoo: Bruno Fernandes’ bold claim about United star
Kobbie Mainoo: Bruno Fernandes’ bold claim about United star Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes believes that the club cannot afford to lose Kobbie Mainoo. The Englishman’s future was subject to speculation at the beginning of the season, under Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese head coach opted for a midfield pivot of Fernandes and Casemiro in order to accommodate his new-look attack, which relegated Mainoo to the bench.
The 21 year old registered just one start under Amorim this season, in the disastrous EFL Cup defeat to Grimsby Town, and all his appearances in the Premier League were from the bench. The Portuguese head coach even suggested that Mainoo was competing with Fernandes for a place in the starting XI, further adding to the youngster’s frustration. As the winter transfer window drew nearer, the Englishman appeared destined to leave Old Trafford in the middle of the campaign in search of regular football.
However, all that changed in January, after United decided to cut short Amorim’s disastrous tenure and replaced him with Michael Carrick, who took charge as caretaker manager until the end of the season. One of the English manager’s first decisions was to reinstate Mainoo into the starting XI. Mainoo’s rise under Carrick Where Mainoo had no place in Amorim’s controversial 3-4-3 system, he became the cornerstone of the 4-3-2-1 formation that Carrick implemented upon his arrival.
United started their post-Amorim era with a blockbuster 2-0 win over Manchester City, with Mainoo securing his first Premier League start of the season and running riot in midfield. The English midfielder retained his place alongside Casemiro for the following game, when the Red Devils secured a 3-2 win against Arsenal at the Emirates. Mainoo has been Carrick’s metronome in midfield ever since, starting every game barring the 2-1 defeat to Leeds United , which he missed due to injury.
The Englishman was outstanding against Liverpool over the weekend, scoring the winner to secure a 3-2 victory. With Casemiro set to leave this summer, the Red Devils are now looking for the Brazilian’s replacement as well as Mainoo’s ideal partner. The young midfielder signed a new contract last week that will keep him at the Theatre of Dreams until 2031.