Manchester United signed Amad Diallo from Atalanta in January 2021 for £18 million. In 2022, Manchester United loaned him to Rangers, where he scored goals and helped the Scottish club, Rangers FC. During the 2022–23 season, United sent him out on loan again, this time to Sunderland.
It was an important period in his development. At Sunderland, Amad improved his game, gained valuable experience, and enjoyed a successful spell, growing both mentally and as a player. After returning to Manchester United, he was often left as an unused substitute under Erik ten Hag, who preferred Antony ahead of him.
Despite all these challenges, Amad was never fully trusted by either Ole Gunnar Solskjær or Erik ten Hag, but he never gave up and worked on his game and dream of being regular in United shirt. Now, the English media is trying to paint Amorim in a negative light for benching Kobbie Mainoo.
The reality is that, at the moment, Amorim cannot easily bench players like Bruno Fernandes or Casemiro.
Imagine if Mainoo had gone through the same situation Amad faced under the scrutiny of England legends. Or imagine if Amad Diallo were English, he may not have been allowed to develop in the way he eventually did. It’s not even halfway through the season and we’ve already got this circus.
Mainoo’s brother turning up at Old Trafford wearing a “Free Kobbie” T-shirt is just not it. All it’s done is put extra pressure on the kid and give the media another stick to beat Amorim with. That’s not helping Kobbie at all.
“It was not Kobbie that wore the FREE MAINOO t-shirt… he’s not going to start because of the t-shirt, and he’s not going to the bench because of the t-shirt”. “He will play if we feel he’s the right guy. I’m used to it, I’ve been here for a year” Ruben Amorim remarked.
Big respect to Roy Keane for saying it how it is. We ALL want Mainoo to succeed at United, probably more than anyone, but this club doesn’t work on sympathy or slogans. You earn your place. You stay patient. You keep grinding.
Roy Keane on Kobbie Mainoo: “Even if the manager says ‘you won’t get ahead of Bruno’, prove him WRONG.”
Kobbie has kept his head down so far and that’s the right way. His family need to do the same. If he wants a long-term future at United, hard work and patience will get him there not shirts and noise. #MUFC
