Last season, a teenager appeared in Manchester United’s midfield. It turned out that Kobbie Mainoo was going to be one of the big bright spots for United this season. Gary Neville and the other United legends stated with enthusiasm that the academy player played like a veteran, with his composure, vision, authority and performance. A year and a half later, a process is underway that could make Mainoo lose to the club.
Ratcliffe and INEOS’ strategy for the “new” Man United is to build the team with young players with exceptional talent and pace of development, preferably with English passports. Mainoo is therefore the profile of the Manchester United player for the long run. “Everyone” has taken it for granted that Mainoo is doing everything possible to live out his dream of playing for one of the world’s biggest clubs, but at the same time there is another process going on that Ratcliffe and the INEOS gang have set in motion: Cut, cut, cut costs!
Mainoo has a contract until 2027, but an extension is already being negotiated. On Tuesday, the Manchester Evening News reported that Mainoo is very unhappy with the offer the club has put on the table.
The Guardian reports that on the other side of the table, Sir Jim Ratcliffe is fed up with the club’s inability to make the big sales. A player like Mainoo, whom rivals will go to great lengths to sign, is therefore not “untochable”.
This means that Ruben Amorim could lose the building block in midfield, or as Sir Alex Ferguson describes Mainoo: Part of the foundation, a “heart and soul” at Manchester United.
Mainoo knows his value in the salary hierarchy at Manchester United, the 19-year-old also knows that other clubs that are actually fighting for the biggest titles are keeping the door open.
We understand the long-term financial clean-up job Ratcliffe has embarked upon, but United supporters won’t take it lightly if this strategy pushes Kobbie Mainoo out of the club.
