Coby Mainu’s future at Manchester United has been the subject of much debate in recent months, but Roy Keane didn’t hold back when giving his view on the situation.
Manager Roy Keane has urged Coby Mainu to fight for his place in the Manchester United squad rather than seek a transfer. The United legend also slammed his midfielder brother, who wore a ‘Free My Nu’ shirt at Old Trafford, calling him an ‘idiot’.
Questions over Maynou’s future at United have been ongoing since the summer, and speculation has only increased as he lacks playing time under manager Ruben Amorim.
The England international requested a loan move at the end of the transfer window, but the club refused to let him go. Mainu has appeared in just 11 Premier League games under Amorim this season, all coming as a substitute.
His only start this season came in the EFL Cup defeat to League Two side Grimsby Town in August. Earlier this week, Mainou’s half-brother Jordan Mainou-Hames caused controversy by wearing a ‘Free Coby Mainou’ T-shirt during the dramatic 4-4 draw with AFC Bournemouth.
read more: Manchester United’s Koby Mainu’s famous brother stitched him up before T-shirt stuntread more: “I have coached Koby Mainu and I think he will last longer at Manchester United than Ruben Amorim.”
Mainu entered the game with less than 30 minutes remaining in a frenetic encounter at Old Trafford, making him the third-highest player in the league this season. Mainou-Hames shared the photo on his Instagram account, sparking new questions about the midfielder’s future and mindset.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Keane branded the move ridiculous and called on Mainu to prove Amorim wrong by bringing him into the team, the Manchester Evening News reported. “Are you saying you can’t sit there for another six months?” he said.
“He may think the manager is leaving in the summer,” Keane said. “He’s only 20 years old. What’s wrong with sitting down and learning your trade? Even if he didn’t have the chance, we all had to.
“Sometimes the manager gets involved in your case and what you have to do is prove them wrong. Jamie claimed he never felt like a regular at Liverpool and I never felt that way at United either. Every day is a chance to prove yourself to the manager and when the manager picks the team he says ‘he has to play’. He needs to understand that in his mindset.”
“And he’s letting his stupid brother do that to him…he shouldn’t waste his time on that. Sometimes you just get surrounded by idiots, especially your family.”
Keane went on to discuss Maynou’s prospects at United: “What is football? A footballer’s life is about trying to prove people wrong. There was talk about Bruno[Fernandes]leaving in the summer, he could leave next summer. Give it your time.”
“There’s nothing wrong with players going out on loan. It works for everyone, but the biggest challenge as a player is to break into the first team here at Man United. Even if the manager says, ‘We’re not going to go past Bruno,’ prove him wrong!”
Despite all the speculation surrounding Mainu, Amorim declined to confirm whether the loan move would be approved. “Especially last year, I had some conversations with him and some other players, but on that subject, no, I didn’t talk to him,” he said.
“I would be really happy if Coby would come and talk to me about it. I just want the players to be happy. Everyone has their own goals and I understand that frustration is not good for anyone. I won’t say what I’m going to say, but I’m going to talk to him.”
“I’m completely open, that’s obvious. I have my own thoughts and that’s obvious too. If you don’t believe me, I’m open to talking to any player. I love it.”
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