Ruben Amorim has challenged Kobbie Mainoo to prove he’s worthy of joining Manchester United’s top earners.
The young England star, currently one of the club’s lowest-paid players, is seeking a salary increase to around £200,000 a week, amid interest from Chelsea.
As Amorim prepares for United’s FA Cup clash at Arsenal, he acknowledges Mainoo as a gem in their ranks but emphasizes the 19-year-old midfielder still has room for improvement. “Kobbie has progressed a lot recently, but he’s not the finished product,” Amorim explained. “He’s very good but has so much more potential to develop.”
Mainoo, whose meteoric rise has caught the spotlight, is under contract at £20,000 a week until 2027.
After starting last season in the Red Devils’ Under-21s, injuries opened the first-team door in November and the midfielder was such a hit, he soon became a regular.
Mainoo ended an epic breakout campaign with the deciding goal as star man in United’s FA Cup final win over City and played in all bar one of England’s Euros games.
But he has been in and out of Amorim’s starting line-up — with summer signing Manuel Ugarte rivalling him as the defensive midfield general.
And the United boss admitted Uruguay hardman Ugarte’s good form — he was outstanding during last Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Liverpool — is now setting the standard for others.
Amorim explained: “Manu continues to be an aggressive player who is better with the ball, playing between the lines.
“He is in a really important position in the team, a good example, and he is improving — but all the players are improving.”
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Meanwhile, SunSport understands Amorim has reassured his men that none of them will be sold — unless he does not want them.
The Portuguese has spoken to the first-team squad after it emerged that the club’s precarious financial situation means they would consider offers for all players.
It is understood some stars have been unsettled by the news and sought reassurance from the former Sporting Lisbon chief about whether they were in his plans.
Amorim told the players that while it was possible offers would be accepted on some, no one would leave unless he agreed to it.
I think you guys feel like he is the finished product — he is not.
Ruben Amorim
The source said: “Amorim basically told them, ‘If I want to keep you, you’ll stay. So work hard and impress me — and if you do and you want to keep being a United player, you will be’.”
On Friday, Amorim admitted United need to improve how they identify and sign targets and said he wanted Mainoo to stay at Old Trafford.
He added: “We need to improve recruitment when we are targeting players so that we are sure they can cope with the demands.
“Also, we have to improve our academy, with young kids that feel the club in the right way, and do some business to have money to invest in the team.
“Our idea is always to keep the best players and to build for this club.
“But I am really happy and like our players — especially the guys from the academy.”
“Our idea is always to keep the best players and to build for this club.
Ruben Amorim
Earlier this week it emerged United chiefs would reluctantly consider selling homegrown players, such as Mainoo and winger Alejandro Garnacho, 20, to help comply with football’s financial rules.
When asked specifically if he wanted Mainoo to stay, Amorim replied: “Yeah, my players are always my favourites so I want to keep my players.
“It is a special moment in this club, it is a hard moment but I am really happy Kobbie is improving.”