- Romano reveals how close Mainoo was to leaving Manchester United
- Serie A side Napoli were interested in midfielder
- Resurgence under Carrick is being rewarded with new contract
A ‘silky’ display by Kobbie Mainoo on Monday night (27 April) against Brentford got Manchester United fans talking.
Despite being denied what would have been an assist of the season against the Bees, the midfielder is gaining all the plaudits for his performance.
Goals and assists are not usually the Englishman’s trade. Yet, any football watcher with their brain switched on has learned to realise that appreciating Mainoo goes beyond the statistics. He makes the team test, and most certainly passes the eye (and the vibe) test.
Just a few months ago, the outlook looked much different under Ruben Amorim for the youth academy graduate.
Mainoo Was ‘Very Close’ to Leaving United
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Mainoo was “very close at the end of December to leaving Manchester United on loan”. This was a move primarily driven by his desire for consistent minutes to secure his development and bag minutes ahead of England’s World Cup selection this summer.
The midfielder “was never planning to leave on a permanent deal because he always wanted to succeed at Man United”. However, securing a loan was considered a “priority for the player” around December and January time.
Rumours around that time pointed towards a potential move to Italy. Current Serie A champions Napoli were interested, in light of their midfielder injury crisis at the time. The 21-year-old would have been reunited with former teammate Scott McTominay in Naples.
Romano said: “Napoli were in very advanced talks to sign Kobbie Mainoo in the final days of December.” However, the landscape at Old Trafford shifted dramatically, and the deal collapsed. The departure of Ruben Amorim was the key factor. Asthe Italian journalist says, United “decided to go for Michael Carrick, who showed total trust” in the youngster, starting him in “11 of the last 12 games.”
Saga Over Mainoo Future is Over
Following this revelation, Mainoo’s long-term future now looks set. Romano claimed: “My understanding is Kobbie could sign a new contract this week”. Whether that is announced now or at the end of the season, it is completely assured that “Kobbie Mainoo is going to be a big part of the Manchester United project”, as the Italian put it.
The transformation in Mainoo’s fortunes has likely saved the Reds from a midfield crisis. Had the Napoli loan materialised, the squad would have been left devoid of his unique composure.
Marcus Rashford’s resurgence in Barcelona suggests that life away from Old Trafford can offer “greener” pastures. However, Mainoo’s decision to stay allows United to secure his best years. The strategic headache now shifts to recruitment. The club must find a reliable deputy and a long-term partner to replace Casemiro. In just a space of a few months, United have gone from struggling to find a place for Mainoo to building the future around his presence.
