Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is facing accusations from a former club defender, Paul Parker, who alleges that Amorim has deliberately sidelined a current squad member due to a personal disagreement. The scrutiny surrounding Amorim has only intensified, given that United have failed to climb above 10th place in the Premier League table. Despite a recent 2-0 win over Sunderland, questions linger following a disappointing loss to Brentford the previous week.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, United’s owner, has tried to quell growing unrest by publicly supporting Amorim. Ratcliffe emphasized his belief that managers need adequate time to make their mark, expressing hope that Amorim will eventually demonstrate the qualities that led to his appointment. However, this patience may spell trouble for certain players, particularly Kobbie Mainoo.
Kobbie Mainoo, once a central figure under former boss Erik ten Hag and England manager Gareth Southgate, has found opportunities scarce since Amorim’s arrival. This lack of playing time, according to Paul Parker, is not a reflection of Mainoo’s abilities on the pitch. Parker contends that something more personal is at play between the manager and the young midfielder.
“We have to ask why Mainoo hasn’t been used in that midfield,” Parker remarked. “Somewhere along the line because I’ve been looking at it, it has to be personal. It has to be personal and the truth has to be told somewhere. He doesn’t like him or he doesn’t like him as a player. It doesn’t make any sense at all.”
Despite Mainoo’s strong performances, including an unexpected but impressive showing at the European Championships, he has only logged 113 minutes of Premier League football this season. His sole start came in the Carabao Cup, which ended in defeat to League Two’s Grimsby Town.
Amorim has previously suggested that Mainoo is now directly competing with Bruno Fernandes for a place in the team, a shift from last season when Mainoo was deployed in more advanced roles. This competition could potentially explain his reduced minutes, but Parker remains unconvinced.
“There’s a talent there that’s not being utilised,” Parker said. “It just doesn’t make sense. Don’t call every player elite but Mainoo is a very good player who can play in any position across the Man Utd midfield. He’s a good runner, get him in and around the box. You ask him to sit in midfield and hold, he can do the job and fill space and stop passes from going through.”
Parker further argued that Mainoo is well suited for the modern game: “If you ask him to bite, kick and scratch, that’s not really him. Football’s not like that anymore cause if it was Mainoo would have struggled a bit. In today’s game, he’s perfect.”
As United continue to grapple with inconsistency, the situation surrounding Mainoo’s role has become emblematic of the broader challenges facing the club under Amorim’s leadership. The controversy remains unresolved, with many now questioning whether personal dynamics are impeding United’s progress on the field.
