John Obi Mikel has blasted Ruben Amorim for his treatment of Kobbie Mainoo, which has left the Manchester United midfielder looking a ‘shadow of his former self’.
Mainoo has not started any of United’s first six Premier League games in a clear sign that he has fallen down the pecking order under Amorim.
The 20-year-old enjoyed a breakout season under Erik ten Hag, culminating in him starting for England in the Euro 2024 final, but Amorim has preferred to partner Bruno Fernandes with one of Casemiro or Manuel Ugarte in his two-man midfield.
In search of regular minutes, Mainoo sought to engineer a loan move away from Old Trafford in the summer window to boost his chances of making England’s World Cup squad.
The Red Devils refused to sanction a move, though, meaning Mainoo is now seemingly consigned to cameo appearances off the bench unless he can somehow force his way into Amorim’s plans.
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But having witnessed Mainoo’s latest substitute appearance in United’s 3-1 defeat to Brentford, Mikel was astonished by how directionless the Carrington graduate looked in Amorim’s side.
‘And again, I watched this kid, Kobbie Mainoo. My word. What has happened to Kobbie Mainoo? What has happened to that kid?’ the former Chelsea midfielder said on The Obi One Podcast.
‘What has happened to that kid? Doesn’t fancy him. I watched him when he came on the pitch.
‘[He is] a shadow of who he was when he burst into the scene. A shadow of who he was, Kobbie Mainoo. Was at fault for the second goal or third goal.
‘He looked heavy. He looked like he doesn’t know what he’s doing, Kobbie Mainoo.
‘And when the manager doesn’t believe in you, when the manager doesn’t have the belief and trust you, that happens.’
Should the situation persist, Mainoo might once again pursue a move away from United in January, with reports suggesting he is still keen on a move to Napoli.
However, former Red Devils striker Teddy Sheringham believes Mainoo should stay in the English top-flight, and said a move to newly promoted Leeds United could get him back to his best.
‘Not even six months ago, he was in the England set-up and people were raving about him. He can’t be that bad a player,’ he told the Yorkshire Post.
‘He just needs someone who loves the way he plays. This game is all opinions and just because Amorim doesn’t fancy him, it doesn’t mean to say [Daniel] Farke won’t get the best out of him.
‘Put an arm around him and tell him how good he is, team him up with someone in midfield who accommodates him and all of a sudden, you’ve got a player back on your hands.’
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