Kobbie Mainoo Man United future takes new twist after Michael Carrick decision

Kobbie Mainoo is the subject of transfer interest from several Premier League and European clubs after barely playing for Manchester United this season under Ruben Amorim

Kobbie Mainoo is now due to remain at Manchester United during the winter transfer window following discussions with interim manager Michael Carrick.

Carrick has challenged him to prove former coach Ruben Amorim wrong after his limited game time under Amorim’s tenure. Mainoo made his first Premier League start since May in Saturday’s Manchester derby.

That also marked his first 90-minute appearance since United’s Carabao Cup second round exit to Grimsby Town in late August. Under Darren Fletcher, Mainoo was immediately reinstated into the squad and saw action for the first time in weeks against Burnley.

The midfielder then started in the FA Cup third round match against Brighton and Hove Albion. His inclusion in the team that triumphed over Manchester City meant back-to-back starts for Mainoo.

The Mirror reports that between these two games, Carrick informed Mainoo that he would be part of his plans for the remainder of the season. That came with a directive to concentrate on reasserting himself at his childhood club and demonstrate that Amorim was mistaken to overlook him.

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As a result, Napoli can dismiss any hopes of securing a loan deal for the midfielder this month. Weeks of reported contact between Mainoo and the Naples-based club will now amount to nothing as his focus shifts under Carrick’s guidance.

The club’s former midfielder, Carrick, praised Mainoo before taking up his new role. In a conversation with Rio Ferdinand last summer, Carrick stated: “I think for a club to have a player that’s come through the academy and knows the club and feels it, I think you have to [build the team around them].

“United’s got to have an element of that. Always has done, always should, always have.

“To have a talent like that he’s shown already, you’ve got to have players like that, you can say they get it, they know it, let’s help them, let’s build them and stick with them, and I think there’s definitely a place for him there for sure.”

Carrick elaborated: “I think he’s more of an attacker. I don’t see him as a holding midfielder. He’s probably that line above with that little bit more freedom.

“I think there are different ways of defending. You can defend on that higher line a little bit, but defending right deep around your centre back is a bit of a different thing.

“I’ve seen him playing a little bit higher with that freedom and creating and taking the ball. I think he’s got a massive future.

“I really like him, I think he just needs a bit of patience and that little bit of break again, which I’m sure he’ll get. He’s got it, and he’s shown that.

“It’s a breath of fresh air the way he takes the ball and plays forward and commits people, can play, can dribble, can pass. That doesn’t leave you, and I think it’s just waves that can come and go with time. I’ve seen it so many times.”