Kobbie Mainoo has opened up about his difficult spell under former Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim, admitting he seriously considered leaving the club after being frozen out of the first-team picture. In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports, the 21-year-old midfielder revealed the mental toll of being deemed surplus to requirements in Amorim's rigid 3-4-2-1 system, before Michael Carrick's interim appointment resurrected his Old Trafford career.
Mainoo's rise under Erik ten Hag had been spectacular. The academy graduate scored the winner in the 2024 FA Cup final against Manchester City and quickly established himself as a regular starter, earning an England call-up. But when Amorim arrived, the Portuguese coach insisted that Mainoo was only suited to the role occupied by Bruno Fernandes – United's ever-present captain – leaving the youngster without a clear path into the starting XI. As a result, Mainoo was not handed a single Premier League start by Amorim, and his request for a loan move in the final week of last summer's transfer window was blocked by the club.
"When you're not playing many games, or any games, you consider all things," Mainoo said. "But at the forefront of my mind was always to play for Manchester United and continue to play for this club that I've grown up at." The midfielder leaned on experienced teammates like Casemiro and Fernandes, as well as close friend Joshua Zirkzee, to get through a period he described as "difficult." He added: "Going from playing nearly every game to not playing as often is always going to be a difficult adjustment. It was good for me in terms of learning about myself, the game, and patience."
The turning point came in January 2026 when United sacked Amorim and turned to former midfielder Carrick on an interim basis. Carrick immediately restored Mainoo to his preferred central midfield role, and the impact was swift. Mainoo has since become a lynchpin in a United side that has won 10 of its 15 matches under Carrick's stewardship, securing Champions League qualification with a game to spare. The midfielder's resurgence also caught the eye of England manager Thomas Tuchel, who handed Mainoo his first international recall since his appointment in March.
"It's difficult when you don't even come on as a sub, of course," Mainoo admitted. "But I'd say my family and my friends helped me see the light at the end of the tunnel. They knew it would swing back my way at some point, so I just had to be patient." That patience has paid off handsomely. Mainoo has signed a new contract at his boyhood club, affirming his long-term commitment after the uncertainty of the Amorim era.
Carrick's man-management has drawn widespread praise, with his decision to build the midfield around Mainoo emblematic of a broader philosophy that has liberated United's attacking talents. The team has scored freely and looked balanced, a sharp contrast to the stilted performances under his predecessor. With just one point needed from their final two games to clinch third place, United look poised to end a turbulent campaign on a high.
The question now turns to Carrick's own future. His contract runs only until the end of the season, but United are ready to open talks about extending his stay. For Mainoo, the prospect is an enticing one. "All I can do is try and work and train to maybe see it in a different light," he reflected on his time under Amorim. That willingness to adapt, combined with Carrick's faith, has reignited a career that once looked at risk of stalling.
Mainoo's story is a cautionary tale about how tactical dogma can sideline generational talent, but it is also a testament to resilience. Manchester United, a club often criticized for short-term thinking, have been rewarded for holding firm on their prized asset. The new contract signals that the club values Mainoo as a cornerstone for the future, and his partnership with Carrick could define the next chapter at Old Trafford.
Based on reporting from Sky Sports.
