Manchester United manager Rúben Amorim has confirmed that the club prevented midfielder Kobbie Mainoo from making a proposed move this past summer.
The 19-year-old reportedly requested a transfer following United’s 2-1 EFL Cup defeat to Grimsby Town on Wednesday, having struggled for form at the start of the season. Despite interest from several European clubs, including Napoli, United chose to keep the English midfielder of Ghanaian descent.
Speaking ahead of the match against Burnley, Manager Amorim stressed Mainoo’s value to the squad: “I want Kobbie to stay. We need Kobbie, but he needs to fight for his place, and my position is not going to change.”
The midfielder is currently under contract until June 2027, with an option for an additional year, and is viewed as central to the club’s long-term future, with his current market value estimated at €50 million.
