Mainoo leaves, Man Utd loses soul

Mainoo is only 20 years old, but he is not an “unripe talent” that needs to be protected.

There are decisions in football that go beyond the technical aspects of a game and touch on the core of a club’s identity. Manchester United’s decision to sell Kobbie Mainoo, a product of the Carrington academy, is a prime example.

With the team struggling to find its identity under Ruben Amorim, Mainoo's story has become a test of the Red Devils' ambition and identity.

A record and pride spanning eight decades

For over 80 years, every Manchester United match has featured at least one academy graduate. It is not just a dry statistic, but a source of pride, a mark of the bond between the club and the Manchester community.

When people talk about Man United, it is the club that has always produced Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Marcus Rashford - faces that are both good at their profession and have local DNA. But now, with Rashford gone and Mainoo relegated to the bench, that identity is in danger of being eroded.

If Mainoo leaves, the record might survive on the surface thanks to a few substitutes. But it is an empty shell, with little practical value. A player who does not play does not embody the Manchester United spirit.

Mainoo is only 20, but he is not a “young talent” who needs to be protected. On the contrary, he has scored the winning goal in the FA Cup final, played in the Euro final for England, and shined in the Europa League. It is proof of his ability to withstand high pressure - something not many young players can do.

If he stays at MU, Mainoo will have to accept sitting on the bench.

However, Ruben Amorim has publicly placed Mainoo in competition with Bruno Fernandes, who has played almost every minute of the season. This message is tantamount to denying the opportunity. To put it bluntly, Amorim does not see Mainoo as a factor capable of turning the game around.

Ironically, the Portuguese coach has also put his faith in Mason Mount, a player who is also creative and a distributor, in the same role as Fernandes. Meanwhile, Mainoo, with his versatility and ability to explode at crucial moments, has been overlooked.

Even the criticism that he “doesn’t move fast enough” becomes more and more harsh when Casemiro still slowly appears on the pitch every week.

The problem of personal ambition

If he stays, Mainoo will have to accept being benched. But at the age of 20, after having experienced big matches, just training and waiting for the right time is too much of a luxury. Especially with the 2026 World Cup approaching, the opportunity to compete for a starting spot in the England team will force him to play regularly. For an ambitious young player, the choice to leave to find a new environment is understandable.

On the other hand, Man United can use Mainoo as a “card” in the financial game, both to improve the books according to PSR regulations and to open up more budget for other goals. But that is a short-term, even dangerous view. Because if they sacrifice Mainoo, they will be no different from breaking one of the few remaining ties between the club and the fans.

Mainoo deserves to be used as a trump card from the bench, even as a starting option in many matches.

More importantly, Mainoo is more than just a romantic symbol. He is also a practical solution.

Man United are currently lacking in players who can turn things around. Fernandes is a leader but cannot carry the team alone. Mount has never been consistent. Casemiro is on the other side of the hill. In that context, Mainoo should be the first name to be put on the field whenever the team needs something different.

Remember last season’s game against Lyon: when given the chance, Mainoo immediately made his mark, bringing a freshness and daring that the club’s ageing midfield was sorely lacking. Those moments proved that he didn’t have to wait for Fernandes to get injured before he could play. Mainoo deserves to be used as a substitute, even a starter in many games.

Manchester United need more than results, they need belief. Belief that the club still has its identity, that Carrington is still producing players of the calibre to play in the first team. For the fans, Mainoo is the embodiment of that.

If Ruben Amorim gets rid of Mainoo, he will not only lose a great player. He will also inadvertently cut an important bond between the club and its fans. With Old Trafford gradually losing its former glory, retaining core values like Mainoo is becoming increasingly necessary.

Kobbie Mainoo should not be treated as a raw talent, nor should he be treated as a commodity to balance the books. He is a reminder of what Manchester United once stood for: character, creativity and togetherness. Selling Mainoo is not just a sporting decision, it is a dangerous compromise with the very soul of the club.

Old Trafford needs Mainoo – not just to keep the 80-year-old record alive, but to maintain the belief that there is still room for Carrington-bred kids in the squad. And above all, to prove that Manchester United have not lost their way.

Source: https://znews.vn/mainoo-di-man-utd-mat-linh-hon-post1579979.html