Gary Lineker has jokingly suggested Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo should sue Ruben Amorim for “taking a year” out of his footballing career. The English youngster’s future at Old Trafford was in major doubt after losing his place in the Red Devils’ team during Amorim’s reign.
Mainoo was regarded as one of the most exciting talents in English football when he made his United debut in January 2023. He quickly nailed down a regular starting berth in Erik ten Hag’s starting lineup and scored in a 2-1 win over Manchester City in the 2024 FA Cup final.
Amorim’s appointment saw the 20-year-old drop down the pecking order as the Portuguese coach preferred a midfield duo of Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro. His lack of game time was a concern for the England international ahead of the World Cup, and he asked to leave on loan last summer.
United’s decision to sack Amorim in January and replace him with Michael Carrick as caretaker manager has proven crucial for Mainoo. He is back in the team and showing why many were bemused by his reduced opportunities.
Lineker jokes Mainoo should ‘sue’ Amorim
Mainoo has appeared four times under Carrick and registered two assists, including in United’s 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday (February 7th). He delivered an excellent performance and continues to put himself in the conversation for a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England team for the World Cup this summer.
Lineker was full of praise for Mainoo following the game against Spurs. The Premier League legend gave a grim verdict on Amorim’s treatment of the English midfielder when speaking on The Rest is Football podcast:
“If I was Kobbie Mainoo, and I say this in jest, I’d be thinking about whether I should sue him (Amorim) or not. He’s taken a year out of that kid’s career. This kid is a wonderful footballer. God, he makes it look so easy.”
Mainoo didn’t start a single Premier League game under Amorim this season but has started each of Carrick’s four games in charge. Lineker feels he’s proven his former manager wrong:
“He wants the ball, he receives it with anyone around him, and he turns, always makes the right decisions, he’s graceful. I mean, come on, he’s been absolutely detrimental to his career.”
Mainoo has been instrumental under Carrick, who has immediately shown more trust in the Englishman. He has shown his gratitude to his current coach on several occasions following games, including a post-match hug following a 2-0 win over Manchester City last month.
Carrick expects more from Mainoo
Mainoo is still at the start of his career, but he’s already enjoyed many memorable moments at Old Trafford. He was on the scoresheet in a remarkable 5-4 comeback win against French side Lyon in the Europa League last season.
Carrick has been singing his praises ever since taking over from Amorim and he expects to see even more from the Stockport-born midfielder. He told reporters after the Spurs win:
“There’s definitely more to come from him, and that’s just the stage he’s at in his career, he’s just starting out, essentially. He’s got so much experience under his belt, of big occasions, big games, and pressurised situations.”
Carrick pointed out how Mainoo is learning from playing alongside Casemiro who departs the club this summer:
“That’s going to help him develop, learn the game and playing next to Case, and learning off him, things that he’s probably not even realising he’s picking up, just playing next to him as well as the other players around him. I think that’s just part of his journey to learn and develop.”
Carrick knows Mainoo well from his time previously assisting Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford. He saw the English star’s growth in the club’s academy and has returned just in time to ensure his development gets back on track.
The focus for now will be on continuing his fine form and potentially earning a call from Tuchel for England’s pre-World Cup friendlies. The Three Lions face Uruguay on March 27th and Japan on March 31st.
Mainoo mess was Amorim’s biggest failure
When Amorim arrived at the Theatre of Dreams, it looked likely that he would make Mainoo a focus in his team. Pictures of his first Carrington visit, while wearing a Moncler jacket and embracing the United man, excited fans.
That excitement dissipated once Amorim decided on his preferred midfield, and that was to use Fernandes in a deeper role alongside Casemiro. Even Manuel Ugarte earned more game time under the Portuguese coach than Mainoo.
Amorim’s record over his 14 months is dismal, and he broke several damning records. But he seemed to have a large section of the Old Trafford faithful backing him when he insisted “the good days are coming.”
The problem the former Sporting CP boss faced was that those days never truly arrived, and when they did, it was because the higher-ups forced him to change his system. If any tactician were to arrive at the club and feel Mainoo isn’t part of his best starting lineup, that should have raised alarm bells from the off.
