Mainoo tried to leave United in the summer, but Amorim opposed it. However, the coach understands his desire to play regularly in the run-up to the World Cup.
A dissatisfied player considers leaving in January, OM interested
After exploding last season, Mainoo has struggled to establish himself as a starter since the start of the 2025-2026 season. He has only played seven Premier League games, for a total of 138 minutes. Napoli, Newcastle and West Ham have reportedly expressed interest, and Mainoo is keen on a January move to get regular playing time and try to land a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup. But Amorim explained that the absence of European competitions limited the playing time of certain players in the squad.
“We have to be ready for the future. »
Amorim said: “ We have to go to Europe for various reasons. Our club must be present in Europe, and it is difficult to have such a successful team. Imagine if I had Mainoo with that much playtime! He needs more matches so that I can rotate the squad, because with only one match per week it’s really complicated. I have to replace one starting player with another. With more matches, we can better distribute the players and manage the group differently.
We try to take advantage of the time we have to train and become a better team. We have to be ready for European matches. But the objective remains the same: we must go to Europe. » “Being in the top four is really difficult for us at the moment, but you never know, you just have to focus on the next win. »
An improving situation for the United coach
After a disastrous start to the season, Manchester United have found form in recent weeks, which has eased concerns over Amorim’s future. After finishing 15th last season and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham, hopes were high following the summer arrivals of recruits such as Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko. However, a sluggish start to the season saw United slip into 14th place in September, including a humiliating Carabao Cup elimination against Grimsby Town.
Amorim’s position has been called into question, with the latter admitting he struggles to handle the pressure. Despite the support of co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, his tactical choices were contested as United struggled to find consistency. However, a run of three consecutive league victories in October, a first under his leadership, saw the team move up the standings.
