Rio Ferdinand makes desperate Man United plea as Amorim sent Kobbie Mainoo transfer message
Kobbie Mainoo was linked with a move away from Manchester United during the summer transfer window, but Ruben Amorim rejected the young midfielder's exit
Rio Ferdinand has pleaded with Manchester United to keep Kobbie Mainoo at Old Trafford. The 20-year-old midfielder was heavily linked with an exit in the summer, but Ruben Amorim stood in his way.
Back in August, Mainoo reportedly submitted a loan request after failing to start any of United's opening Premier League fixtures. The Reds boss rejected this request, maintaining that the England international remained central to his plans.
Since the summer transfer window closed, Mainoo has continued to feature only sporadically, prompting numerous United supporters to question whether the Stockport-born playmaker will stay at Old Trafford beyond this season – or even January, particularly with next summer's World Cup approaching.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, while fronting Talking Futures' new initiative Half Time Talks initiative, Ferdinand sympathised with his situation. The United legend said: "If he was agitating to get a loan now, if he is not playing in January, he will be agitating and knocking the door down even more to go and get game time.
"He has had a taste of a tournament with England and came out of it with absolutely flying colours, and he will want a taste of that again, and rightly so. You have to have two hats in these situations.
"If you think about it being a player again, you have got to be thinking about yourself in these situations. You are lucky to go to multiple tournaments in your career, you are lucky to go to just one tournament.
"So, I understand that with my selfish, football player hat on, thinking about England and yourself. But, at the same time, if you are thinking long-term for Manchester United, I think Manchester United have to find a way of getting this kid in the team, he is a huge talent.
"Is there another way to get him in the team? What does he need to do? That is the big thing for me, as long as those conversations are going on.
"Has he asked those questions, or is he being told that this is what he needs to be doing? Is this a requirement? Work on this and then you will get an opportunity and then it is down to him."
Amorim has been frank about how Mainoo is competing directly with Bruno Fernandes for a place in the side. Ferdinand reckons it shouldn't necessarily mean the young midfielder must wait for the skipper's departure before establishing himself in the first XI.
"I was a footballer once, and if I was in his situation, I would be impatient," Ferdinand continued. "I am not looking to sit around.
"I went on loan to Bournemouth, and I was doing well, and I said to Harry Redknapp at the time, he said he wanted me to come back (to West Ham ), but I said I am only coming back if I am playing.
"Am I playing or not? He said, 'Listen, I am going to get you game time and you are going to start playing.' I was not in a position like Kobbie Mainoo, who has been to a tournament for England and playing really well and playing some big games for United, so I can understand his frustrations.
"For a young footballer, they want to play. Whatever is going on behind the scenes, I hope there is that transparency and communication as to why he is not playing and how he gets himself back in the team."
While he can appreciate why Mainoo might be eager to secure a move for additional playing time, Ferdinand was crystal clear about where he believes the midfielder's future should lie. He added: "I don't want Kobbie Mainoo putting on any other shirt other than England's or Man United's. Simple as."
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