Mainoo makes decision over Man Utd future

Kobbie Mainoo has reacted to being frozen out of Manchester United’s starting XI by making a big decision over his future at Old Trafford.

The England midfielder burst onto the scene under previous boss Erik ten Hag but has struggled to make the same impression under Ruben Amorim, who prioritises midfielders with strong engines capable of covering the park quickly.

Mainoo finds himself stuck behind captain Bruno Fernandes in the pecking order, and with apparently little chance of serious minutes under the Portuguese manager.

He has played just 166 minutes so far this season for Man Utd, with his only start coming in the infamous Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town – a fixture he, like so many others, struggled to impress in.

With this in mind, Mainoo has decided that he is prepared to leave Old Trafford as early as January in search of first-team football, The Mirror reports.

The 20-year-old is not seeking a permanent exit, though. Instead, he is looking for a loan move. This was a route he wanted to take in the summer, only for his request to be rejected by Man Utd.

He has made this call despite holding fresh talks with Amorim over his role at the club, which would seem to indicate that he did not get the answers he was looking for from the Red Devils boss.

Mainoo targets England World Cup spot

Mainoo’s decision has been driven by a desire to feature at the 2026 World Cup next summer. This is a dream that has been put under threat as new England manager Thomas Tuchel has overlooked him since taking over from Gareth Southgate.

The German has made it clear that Mainoo will not play for the Three Lions while he is so peripheral at Man Utd, leaving the player feeling that he has “no choice” but to seek a solution in the next transfer window.

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