Kobbie Mainoo wanted by Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid as Man United exit nears
Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are each eyeing up moves for Man United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo as he seeks an exit route out of Old Trafford before the summer window closes.
Mainoo’s stock has fallen over the last few months, with Ruben Amorim preferring to play the likes of Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte and Mason Mount in the middle of the park.
He burst onto the scene with the Red Devils during the 2023/24 campaign, as he scored the eventual winning goal in the FA Cup final against Man City and went on to feature heavily for England at Euro 2024.
The 20-year-old made just 25 league appearances last term, and former chief scout at Old Trafford Mick Brown told Football Insider on Monday (25 August) that Mainoo could be tempted to leave Man United in the next week after he failed to feature in either of their first two games of the season.
Tottenham have considered a move for Mainoo this summer as he aims to find form elsewhere this season, and a new development has now revealed that he could be about to continue his career abroad with one of the biggest clubs in the world.
Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid join Premier League clubs in Kobbie Mainoo chase
According to a report from the Daily Mail (26 August), Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are both keeping tabs on Mainoo’s availability, with a season-long loan move potentially of interest to either side in the Spanish capital.
They also state that a host of Premier League clubs are monitoring the situation, while he wants first team football and is also open to a move to a team playing in the Champions League.
It is, however, believed to be unlikely that Man United will allow him to leave the club on loan this summer, as they are not actively seeking to sell and it is instead his desire to depart that could see a deal done.
Ruben Amorim should keep Kobbie Mainoo and give him regular starting chances
Football Insider verdict
Mainoo’s United downfall has been a strange one, as he was a real standout when he was first breaking through under Erik ten Hag, then did not seem to do much wrong other than get injured, yet has been forced out of the team by Amorim.
Unless there are back-room issues that have not been publicly disclosed, which seems unlikely at a club as big as United with so many rumours about rifts behind the scenes that seem to be revealed, then it is baffling as to why the club would allow him to leave this summer.
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 72 | 7 | 2 |
It does make sense as to why Mainoo is reportedly the one trying to force an exit, but that is born from a lack of chances handed to him by Amorim both last season and at the start of this term, despite United’s midfield looking lethargic and consistently being overpowered by opposition teams.
Chelsea have also previously been mooted with interest in Mainoo, and now that Real and Atletico have joined the race for his services, his head may already be turned and Amorim is unlikely to be able to convince him to stay for the season ahead.