SIR JIM RATCLIFFE personally intervened to ensure Kobbie Mainoo did not complete a Manchester United exit this summer, according to reports.
Mainoo, 20, is said to have grown frustrated by his lack of minutes under Ruben Amorim after not starting the first two Premier League games of the season.
The highly-rated midfielder then started the shock Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby and was introduced at half-time of the 3-2 win over Burnley last weekend.
It is understood Mainoo asked the club to allow him to leave on loan in search of regular playing minutes.
Mainoo made it clear he had no intention of severing ties permanently, with the request made in part to help his chances of playing for England in next summer’s 2026 World Cup.
However, it has now been claimed by Fabrizio Romano that a unanimous decision was made by club chiefs, including Ratcliffe, to block any exit for the Carrington graduate.
Speaking on his YouTube channel about the situation, he said: “Kobbie asked to go on loan, he never asked to go on a permanent.
“Never been a possibility, either for Man United or for Kobbie Mainoo. But he did want to go on loan. It was a priority for Kobbie Mainoo to go on loan.
“Man Utd said no, they decided internally, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe involved, that they couldn’t sell Kobbie Mainoo.
“This was a decision made with all the people involved: directors, CEO, coach and owner. ‘We can’t let Kobbie Mainoo go,’ that was the position.”
But Romano also warned that Mainoo may attempt to leave again in January if he is not satisfied with his minutes.
Romano added: “Now we have some interesting months ahead.
“If Kobbie Mainoo plays the situation will be okay, if he stays on the bench I think in January this could be a topic again.”
Injuries to both Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount – whom Mainoo replaced against Burnley – could open the door to a place in the starting XI.
Red Devils manager Amorim said Mainoo was competing with club captain Bruno Fernandes for position in the team.
United ratings v Burnley
MANCHESTER United finally got their first win of the season with the 3-2 victory over Burnley.
It took a 97th minute Bruno Fernandes penalty to clinch the three points after United twice let their lead slip.
SunSport’s Katherine Walsh was at Old Trafford to run the rule over Ruben Amorim’s team, so how did she rate them?
Meanwhile, after announcing his England squad for World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia, Thomas Tuchel admitted Mainoo had been left out solely due to a lack of minutes.
He told reporters: “He is on our list of players.
“But at the moment, in his position 6/8/10 in central midfield, we have players who are in full rhythm and who play key parts in their clubs, and this is the next step for him.”
United face tough tests against Manchester City, Chelsea and Brentford after the international break.
In the meantime, Mainoo sent fans wild after posting a clip of himself doing skills during training with personal coach Jonas Dodoo.
Man Utd’s transfer deals
IN
- Bryan Mbeumo – from Brentford – £71m
- Matheus Cunha – from Wolves – £62.5m
- Diego Leon – from Cerro Porteno – £7m
- Benjamin Sesko – from RB Leipzig – £74m
- Senne Lammens – from Royal Antwerp – £18m
TOTAL – £232.5m
OUT
- Alejandro Garnacho – to Chelsea – £40m
- Marcus Rashford – to Barcelona – Loan
- Victor Lindelof – released
- Christian Eriksen – released
- Toby Collyer – to West Brom – Loan
TOTAL – £40m
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