Koby Mainu has hardly gotten a kick in the Premier League this season under manager Ruben Amorim, but Michael Carrick immediately slotted him into his first start against Manchester City, and the 20-year-old proved productive with a goal or two.
Coby Mainou and Michael Carrick after the win against Manchester City (Image: 2026 Manchester United FC)
According to some, Ruben Amorim did not deserve to be fired. However, in one Manchester derby match, Coby Mainu proved that sacking the Portuguese was the right decision.
For some reason, Amorim decided to ignore one of the best young midfielders in English football during his time at Manchester United. He thought of him as a substitute for Bruno Fernandes – he doesn’t need a substitute because he will play if he is healthy – and nothing else.
I found his decision both strange and criminal. And ultimately it self-destructed as Amorim lost his job at Old Trafford. Of course, so does Mynu.
Amorim’s treatment of Mainu, who rose to fame under Erik ten Hag and was quickly promoted to England’s first team for Euro 2024, left the boyhood United fan disillusioned and wanting to leave.
Imagine that. I want to quit the local club that I supported as a child, scouted when I was 6 years old, and signed with when I was 7 years old.
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Mainu has spent the last few weeks in talks with Napoli. Like the rest of the world, he failed to notice that his former teammate Scott McTominay had taken his game against the Italian champions to a new level under the guidance of Antonio Conte. He aspired to do the same for himself.
He knows his chances of being selected for Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for this summer’s World Cup are looking worse by the day, with his season ruined by Amorim.
However, the Serie A side can forget about signing Mainu for now. He had completely forgotten that he had moved to the Amalfi Coast. His focus has returned to the club of his heart, once again thriving in his homeland.
Mainoo reminded everyone what a top-class player he is as United beat Manchester City at Old Trafford on Saturday. He epitomized poise and class in the heat of the moment, and at times during his breakthrough season he looked like the player who held United together and started for the Three Lions in the Euro 2024 final.
He was an outstanding midfielder on the pitch, alongside Fernandes and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri. Mainu was very good, but Rodri was unremarkable from start to finish.
And all this in the first league start of the season.
Koby Mainu looks reborn following the sacking of Ruben Amorim (Image: Neil Simpson/All Star, Getty Images)
After Michael Carrick was appointed interim manager, he is said to have told Mainoo he would be part of the team’s plans from now until the end of the season.
I told him to focus on re-establishing himself in the United team.
He then told Amorim to prove him wrong.
In over 90 minutes, he did just that.
Amorim’s stubbornness cost Mainu half of the season. He can’t get that back and it may be too late to make enough of an impression to bring Tuchel to the US this summer.
But at a time when United seriously need more real quality in their midfield, but are unlikely to be willing to send the money to acquire it, the fallen giants will feel like a new signing has re-emerged.
Mainu won’t turn 21 until April. He has a long and bright career ahead of him. And United need to make sure they are a big part of whatever happens in the dugout.
