Kobbie Mainoo’s uncertain position at Manchester United was thrust into the spotlight at Old Trafford on Monday night when the midfielder’s brother, Love Island alumnus Jordan Mainoo-Hames, was spotted wearing a shirt emblazoned with the message “Free Kobbie Mainoo” during the dramatic 4–4 draw with Bournemouth.
The gesture, made in full view of the cameras, underlined growing frustration around the 20-year-old’s lack of opportunities under Ruben Amorim.
Mainoo has struggled for minutes this season, failing to start a Premier League match and accumulating just 212 minutes of league action, despite being widely regarded as one of the brightest products of United’s academy in recent years.
Amorim has found himself under mounting scrutiny for his handling of the England international, with club legends Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt all questioning why Mainoo has been marginalised.
The criticism has intensified amid reports that the midfielder is again considering a loan move when the January transfer window opens, having been denied a temporary exit in the summer.
Jordan, a contestant on the fifth series of ITV’s Love Island in 2019, made a pointed statement by wearing the black shirt inside the stadium, a move interpreted as a direct challenge to Amorim’s approach.
It came on a night when Mainoo was introduced from the bench in the second half but once again overlooked from the start.
🚨👕 Kobbie Mainoo’s brother Jordan on Instagram. pic.twitter.com/laXZEfnQqv
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 15, 2025
Amorim has been unapologetic in public, insisting that Mainoo has not fully seized the chances presented and that reputation alone will not dictate selection.
The United head coach has also delivered a blunt assessment of other academy prospects, including Toby Collyer, Chido Obi and Harry Amass, making clear that youth alone is no guarantee of advancement.
Former United midfielders Ferdinand, Scholes and Butt have all suggested that Mainoo’s development could stall without regular football, arguing that a loan move may now be necessary.
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Kobbie Mainoo has struggled for regular game time under Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim and could leave in the January transfer window
|PA
Amorim, however, framed the criticism as a reflection of past success rather than present reality.
“Sometimes they don't have all the information and they see Manchester United with the standards that they lived here, always winning,” Amorim said ahead of the Bournemouth match.
“So it's hard for them to see their club in this situation.
“I take that naturally. It's a fact that me as a manager of Manchester United, I think we are underachieving.
"We should have more points, especially this season. The problem is that me, as a manager, I'm not doing good enough and I can accept that. So that is the only problem. Not winning is the issue.
“If I'm winning I can go to the games on a horse, arrive there, play with just two defenders and everything will be fine.
Eli Junior Kroupi scored late to earn Bournemouth a draw against Manchester United | PA
Five facts about the Premier League | PA/GETTY/REUTERS/GBNEWS"At Sporting [Lisbon] there was no issue because we were winning all the time. So I understand and that's okay.”
Mainoo’s future remains unresolved. Napoli were the midfielder’s preferred destination when United blocked a loan move in the summer, and the Serie A side are expected to renew interest in January.
Amorim confirmed that no recent discussions had taken place about a potential exit but stressed that individual ambitions must be balanced against tactical considerations.
“No, I didn't speak with him, not about that,” Amorim said.
“I had some conversations with him, especially last year, and with other players, but not about that subject. The team comes first and I will be really pleased if Kobbie comes to talk to me about that.
“I just want my players happy, and I understand that every individual has their goals. The problem is that we are playing with two midfielders and you guys see Kobbie in a different way than I'm seeing him. Maybe if we play with three midfielders, Kobbie will have more minutes.”