MU is still working hard to add forces in the summer transfer window 2025. However, if you look at the human resources that coach Ruben Amorim is available, the Red Devils clearly have a quality “rookie”.
On the morning of July 27, Kobbie Mainoo returned to the stadium where he was launched in the football world. At that time, Mainoo was only 18 years old and was kicked against Arsenal at MetLife in July 2023 – the opening match for a booming season of the midfielder released at Stockport.
During the American tour that year, everyone clearly saw MU holding a valuable raw jade. Mainoo played confidently against more than 82,500 spectators and his calmness made coach Erik Ten Hag completely assured the opportunity in the Premier League.
The first season of Mainoo closed with the attendance of Euro 2024 – a reward worthy for the great performance of the young man. But the second season does not go smoothly with Mainoo as expected, and the upcoming 2025/26 season will be a big turning point.
Currently, Mainoo has not been able to occupy the main kick in the favorite squad of Amorim coach, partly because of the injury, the rest is because the Portuguese teacher has not really found the optimal role for him.
Mainoo was tested at No. 10, the striker and the central midfielder deepened in the diagram of Amorim. The continuous rotation makes Mainoo difficult to maintain high performance. However, this summer, Amorim seemed to have been almost found the solution.
In a friendly match against Leeds in Stockholm, Mainoo came on the bench, played in the position of midfielder and then played in this role in the match against West Ham. It was also a position that helped him shine brightly against Arsenal at MetLife last year – where the world started to pay attention to the talent of the star born in 2005.
There is an opinion that Mainoo is not physically physically played in the middle, but the performance against Leeds and West Ham shows the potential for expectation.
When kicked low, Mainoo promotes the ability to pass the ball as a “Quarterback” in the American rugby – who controls the game and originates for attacks. On the contrary, when he played higher, he had little chance to show this strength.
Coach Amorim understands that he needs to stabilize the role for Mainoo if he wants a student to be stable. And he himself admitted that in the press conference: “I think Kobbie can play in both positions in the midfield. Last season, he kicked higher. But I believe the ideal position is near the ball, always touching the ball.
I think Kobbie is a great talent, and you know it better than me. He needs to improve the speed and pace of the ball. I often remind Kobbie because he is good, but may be even better. I have a great plan for him. But as I said, when the team only played a game per week, competition would be very fierce. “
The question is: Can Mainoo play effectively in the system of Amorim as under HAG Ten? Amorim is definitely trying to put Mainoo in the plan, because his talent is not to be discussed.
The remaining friendly matches in the pre -season this season will help clarify the tactical orientation that Amorim has for Mainoo, and all current signs show that he will be arranged in midfield.
If Amorim can help Mainoo find himself, this is like a “new contract” for Man United.
