Benched by Coach Amorim, Mainoo and Zirkzee are considering leaving
The decision made by coach Rúben Amorim in Manchester United’s disappointing 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest is seen as a clear sign of distrust, pushing the futures of Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee at Old Trafford to the brink.
Although the starting XI struggled to create chances and lacked effectiveness, Amorim only made two substitutions and left both Mainoo and Zirkzee on the bench for the entire 90 minutes. This decision is considered to have ended their hopes of securing a place under the Portuguese manager.
When the players on the field were underperforming and clearly needed to be replaced, Amorim’s choice to overlook Mainoo and Zirkzee—despite both having spent a long time warming up—reportedly left them extremely frustrated.
Observers believe that if a player cannot get an opportunity in a match where the team is struggling, it means they are no longer part of the coach’s plans. Amorim’s move was not just a tactical decision but also a public show of no confidence.
As a result, Manchester United now risk losing both players in the January transfer window. Although the club would prefer to keep them as backup options during the period when several players will be away for the Africa Cup of Nations, their current dissatisfaction could make that impossible.
Mainoo had already asked to go out on loan during the summer but was denied, while Zirkzee has attracted strong interest from clubs in Italy and the Premier League. If opportunities remain limited, it seems inevitable that both will look for a way out.