RUBEN AMORIM laughed at reporters when they suggested he should have brought Kobbie Mainoo off the bench against West Ham – and the Manchester United outcast responded on social media.
The Red Devils were forced to settle for a share of the spoils on Thursday, thanks to Soungoutou Magassa cancelling out Diogo Dalot’s opener.
Mainoo was an unused substitute at Old Trafford, meaning he has still only been handed 171 minutes of Premier League action this season.
During his post-match press conference, Amorim asked reporters which player would have been more offensive-minded to bring on in the final exchanges.
When a journalist put Mainoo’s name forward, the Manchester United head coach could be seen laughing.
The Old Trafford academy graduate was alerted to the exchange after a graphic with the quotes was shared by Sport Bible on Instagram.
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And Mainoo, 20, appeared to take a swipe at Amorim after the Manchester Evening News reported that he liked the post.
The Red Devils fan favourite has since removed the interaction.
The Daily Mail revealed that 12 clubs, including reigning Serie A champions Napoli, are interested in taking Mainoo on loan when the transfer window reopens next month.
His suitors have sniffed an opportunity to pounce after his only start this season came in the Carabao Cup humiliation at Grimsby.
But Manchester United are unlikely to sanction Mainoo’s exit because of a host of teammates heading to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Bryan Mbeumo has already been named in Cameroon’s squad, while Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui are expected to be called up by Ivory Coast and Morocco respectively.
Following the stalemate with West Ham, Amorim insisted he needs to see more from Mainoo.
He said: “I don’t know what is going to happen. It depends. If I see in the training it is the best thing, I will put it.
“That is the only way I know how to respond to that.
“My job is to answer but I am trying to answer always the same thing. And you ask me always the same thing.
“I understand what you are saying. You love Kobbie. He starts for England, but that doesn’t mean I need to put Kobbie when I feel I shouldn’t put Kobbie.”
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