After playing one of the main roles in the FA Cup final victory, Man Utd management sat down with Kobbie Mainoo to negotiate an extension and a salary that would ensure that the academy player did not look for other clubs. This was in 2024. A year and a half later, negotiations are underway, but of a completely different kind. This time it is about permanent exit, far away from Old Trafford.
The negotiations in 2024 are said to have stalled after a disagreement over wages, since then Ruben Amorim has sent the 20-year-old into a playing time drought, with anywhere from two to 30 minutes long coming on this season in the Premier League. The only game from the start was in the League Cup fade against Grimsby.
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On Monday, however, the longest PL appearance of the season came, with United supporters at Old Trafford welcoming the 20-year-old with a loud roar. His brother still made sure to overshadow Kobbie’s performance on the pitch with his “Nelson Mandela”-inspired (or was it killer whale “free Willy”-inspired?) stunt the photographers threw themselves into.
So what’s going on?
According to Daily Mail journalist Chris Wheeler, there is now only one door Mainoo will choose – it is on a permanent exit from Manchester United. It has been completely torn between Amorim and the 20-year-old, Mainoo sees no future at Old Trafford, and feels he has no choice but a fresh start outside of United.
United blocked rentals this summer, according to the Daily Mail , Mainoo is now open to leaving permanently, or on a loan deal with an option to buy. In both cases, bye-bye United.
Read on F7: “Manchester United wanted me to leave”
