After allowing him to join Naples last summer, he transferred the standoff along with Mindful to the stunning impact by Scott McTominai to a £25 million bargain
Kobbie Mainoo is at the heart of a £50 million tug-of-war between Italian champions Napoli and Manchester United.
The Italian champion, currently targeting the Champions League, has signed a four-year contract awaiting the 20-year-old midfielder. And Mine says to the United boss that he wants to go to Serie A on a permanent deal.
United have been blocking the move so far, noting the stunning impact brought on by another rejecter, Scott McTominay.
However, Mainoo has asserted that he wants to leave before the transfer deadline on Monday.
Midfielder McTominay was allowed to leave Old Trafford on a £25 million switch for Antonio Conte’s Napoli last summer.
He then produced a series of game-changing performances domestically and Europe, where he became the first contender for the Barondoor since former Rangers striker Ally McCoist in 1987.
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Under Conte, McTominay was ridden heavily at Old Trafford and ultimately on the sidelines, but contributed to the club’s title success.
The 28-year-old scored 12 times in 34 league appearances and provided important goals to secure Scudetto on the final day of the season.
Mainoo believes Conte could have a similar impact on his own football future, and as a result, he wants to leave permanently rather than lending, as previously believed.
Conte believes his fast feet, impressive passing range and speed in tight space will help him side as Napoli defends the title and targets the Champions League.
The club deal for the English midfielder, still highly rated by many United fans, will run until 2027, but negotiations on the extension are stagnant.
It is also understood that United will be willing to listen to offers for him as his usual first team opportunity is stagnant under Reuben Amorim.
Mainoo played 90 minutes in Wednesday’s EFL Cup penalty shootout loss at Grimsby.
But before that, he was a replacement for United who opened two Premier League matches that he claimed United were fighting for a place against skipper Bruno Fernandez.
Stockport-born Mainoo has had an unfortunate 12 months at Old Trafford since the fantastic end of the 2023-24 campaign.
His confidence and form were soaked, and he was injured when Eric Ten Hag was fired and Amorim took his place.
Mainoo was involved in a series of damaging defeats as the players struggled with the three-man system of Portugal’s head coach.
The injury hit again in February, and by the time he returned, Amorim focused on the Europa League, there was a chance.
However, McTominay has left United and is not the only player to flourish since. Antony stands out at Betis, with Marcus Rashford helping Aston Villa on the brink of the Champions League semi-finals and earning the transition to Barcelona.
Chelsea is seen enough to invest £40 million in winger Alejandro Garnacho. Now, Napoli is determined to push Mainoo to the Monday transfer deadline.
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