Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has revealed that Kobbie Mainoo wants to play at the World Cup, but insisted that he needs him at Old Trafford.
The England international has fallen down the pecking order as the Portuguese boss prefers to start Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes in midfield.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe current three midfielders have yet to hit the ground running, and their mixed performances have sparked discussions about whether they will keep their spots for the upcoming fixtures.
Manchester United have crucial fixtures lined up, and they would want to leave no stone unturned in their bid to climb up the Premier League table.
To begin with, they would lock horns with Liverpool in a thrilling fixture, eager to grab all three points. A defeat on Sunday would leave them five points behind fourth-placed Bournemouth.
Does Mainoo fit into the current United system?
The Red Devils have adopted a direct style of football under Amorim, often launching long passes straight into the forward line rather than attempting to build out from the back.
This particular style has a drawback, as it leads to moments of loose possession, and the Red Devils have frequently faced dangerous counterattacks.
Mainoo is arguably the best midfielder in the club when it comes to escaping pressure, but his lack of athleticism keeps him away from the starting eleven.
Casemiro and Fernandes are in their thirties and are struggling to cover sufficient ground. Introducing Mainoo could rejuvenate the Manchester United midfield.
The Englishman only has 117 minutes of Premier League action under his belt, and his lack of playing time has created a buzz of a potential exit.
Embed from Getty ImagesAmid calls for Mainoo to start against Liverpool, boss Ruben Amorim has admitted that Mainoo is part of the squad this season; however, he reveals that the player wants to play in the World Cup.
Speaking to reporters, “I also know that in our club, everything is a lot of noise. You have to have news. Players are not playing. They want to play.
“There’s a World Cup. There are agents that listen to the players talking all the time. So I understand that, but they are our players and we need everyone to have a good season.
“I believe a lot in Kobbie, but some of you think that Kobbie Mainoo is already done (the finished article). I think he can do so much better, he can improve in a lot.”
Mainoo was linked with an exit to the likes of Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Napoli in search of more playing time.
Red Devils may have another headache on their hands if Mainoo doesn’t get enough play time and threatens to leave the club, a prospect they wouldn’t want to deal with. It will be interesting to see how this situation pans out
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