Manchester United legend Nicky Butt suspects Ruben Amorim is plotting the departure of academy graduate Koby Mainu. The young midfielder has not started a single Premier League game so far this season. Napoli lead a long line of clubs interested in signing the player, with speculation mounting that the player could temporarily leave in January.
United manager Amorim backed the decision to keep the midfielder in the substitute slot, insisting: “Coby needs to fight for his job.” “Being on the Manchester United bench at 20 years old is not a bad thing,” he insisted. Previously regarded as United’s brightest prospect following a breakthrough 2023/2024 campaign with a number of impressive performances, Butt and former Premier League manager Sam Allardyce feel the 20-year-old’s time at the club is coming to an end.
The pair also insist that Mainu should explore opportunities to trade with other clubs.
Speaking on the Footy Accumulators No Tippy Tappy Football podcast in association with BOYLE Sports, Butt suggested Maynou has fallen into a harmful pattern of extended periods away from the team, hampering his ability to perform when called upon.
He also explained why he believes Mr Mainu has not yet spoken out about his plight.
“Every player now has a management team to take care of him. Why doesn’t the management tell him to go and talk to him?” said Butt.
“I don’t know the details because I’m leaving in January anyway, so I might be told not to go there, but it’s a very sad situation.
“He’s a great player, Coby. I’ve known him since he was about seven or eight years old. He’s a great talent. It was only a year ago that he was 18 and playing in the Champions League. His talent doesn’t disappear overnight.”
“Covey has played nine games this season, all of them as a substitute, so how can he judge a person? When I was at United, I didn’t always start, I had (Roy) Keane and (Paul) Scholes in front of me most of the time. The reason I left was because I wasn’t always available.”
“There’s nothing worse than missing five or six games. Then the manager puts you in and says you have to show what you’re capable of, because then you lose your rhythm and from my experience it takes five games to get going.”
“So, for example, if Kobe were to play in the next game, I guarantee you he’s not going to play well. If that happens, the coach will be gone, that’s what I said.”
From a business perspective, Mr Allardyce supported Mr Amorim. The 71-year-old believes it is Mainu’s duty to seek more playing opportunities, but is concerned that the young midfielder’s confidence is being undermined in this situation and he should consider leaving the club.
Allardyce said: “He’s right. He’s been pretty busy and doing what he has to do. Mainu’s priority is to stand out in training and prove to the manager that he’s worthy of coming back into the team. It’s also his responsibility to knock on doors and ask why he’s not playing, not the other way around.”
“I’m the manager of Man Utd so I don’t have to wait too long. If he’s not in the team on Saturday, it’s already been decided in my mind whether he’s going to be in the team or not, but Mainu is not a priority. He needs to make a good impression to have a chance to come back and he can’t wait too long before he leaves.”
“If you destroy someone’s confidence, it’s very difficult for that person to come back. He’s not intentionally destroying his confidence. The people Mainu is around him outside of the football club have a huge responsibility to get him back on track. The number of players I’ve seen who just finish training, get dressed and go home is ridiculous. They don’t even try to impress the manager.”
“Amorim doesn’t have time, so we can’t give him four or five games to get back on track. He needs results now or he will move on.”
“He (Mainoux) needs to get away. It would be foolish for him to sign a new contract at Man Utd and become an international player. You play football because it’s your gift and it’s the dream of millions of people who didn’t get it. And you have to go play football.”
