Former Manchester United star Nicky Butt thought it was problematic that Kobbie Mainoo is kept out in the cold on match day, the player Butt believes United would have happily paid £70 million for on the market. The 20-year-old is said to be desperate to get playing time on loan before the World Cup finals kick off in six months’ time. Ruben Amorim can disappoint both Butt and Mainoo.
Nicky Butt had Mainoo at the United academy and doesn’t like what he sees. “I’m worried about him, because he’s a superstar. He joined the England national team when he was 18–19 years old. He was one of the best players in the Euros for us,” Butt told Sky Sports.
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“He has come through the academy from the age of seven; He was there when I was there as academy manager. I know him as a person, know him as a young boy. I know him as a young man, I know what talent he has. The worrying thing for me is that if Kobbie Mainoo played for Crystal Palace, for example, Man United would go and buy him for £60-70 million, guaranteed, says Butt.
Napoli are knocking on the door to sign Mainoo in an injury crisis in midfield for Conte, but according to former Man Utd chief scout Mick Brown, the club management have learned from Scott McTominay’s exit and do not want to repeat the mistake.
Brown reports to Football-Insider that he expects United to have learned their lesson with Scott McTominay, who has become a superstar after being allowed to leave. Sources have indicated that the Red Devilsare still not interested in letting Mainoo leave, even on loan. That could change in January, but here and now, Butt has to advise Mainoo to work hard to deliver “Amoriom football”.
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