Rio Ferdinand Warns Man Utd Talent to Stay ‘Razor Sharp’ as AFCON Could Leave Him Watching from the Bench
Rio Ferdinand has encouraged Kobbie Mainoo to be completely ready and make the most of any playing time he gets at Manchester United, implying that he won’t be gifted opportunities under Ruben Amorim anytime soon.
Mainoo’s appearances for United have been limited this season, totaling just 261 minutes, as he finds himself behind Bruno Fernandes in the midfield pecking order.
Amorim apparently only envisions him playing in the captain’s role, alongside a more defensively-minded midfielder, which, given recent matches, suggests even the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) period might not provide the young player with the necessary minutes on the pitch.
While the expected exits of Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo have been viewed as a prime chance for Mainoo to step up and fight for a more regular place in Amorim’s starting lineup, Ferdinand maintains that this is still the situation.
He believes Mainoo needs to be prepared to seize any chance that comes his way.
Rio Ferdinand suggested that if he were in Kobbie Mainoo’s position, he’d be dedicating the next few weeks to intense training and conditioning, aiming to be in peak form once the African Cup of Nations begins.
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He implied that Mainoo should be thinking, “If I’m still not getting game time even with players potentially leaving for international duty, then something’s seriously wrong.”
Ferdinand pointed out the manager has options: he could easily shift Bruno Fernandes into a more forward role if the main strikers are unavailable, as he’s done previously.
Alternatively, with attacking absences, Bruno could move to the wing, creating space for Mainoo in the central midfield.
Ferdinand concluded that these upcoming weeks are crucial for Mainoo in evaluating his role at the club and deciding whether he’s content to remain or explore opportunities elsewhere.
“The coming weeks will be crucial for that specific area, so keep a close eye on developments.
Currently, the situation is uncertain with many conditional factors. The recent two matches have essentially served as a preview of what things will be like without key players.
Even with the absences of forwards Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, Mainoo has seen very limited playing time – just 32 minutes as a substitute in the loss to Everton and a brief appearance at the end of the Crystal Palace game.
However, there are positive signs. Cunha has indicated his return to training with a social media post, and Joshua Zirkzee performed well in the win against Crystal Palace, scoring an impressive goal.
This suggests that when Mbeumo and Amad leave, the likely starting front three will feature Mason Mount and Cunha flanking Zirkzee.
However, Zirkzee’s position is not guaranteed, as he may lose his spot once Sesko recovers from his injury in the coming weeks.
Furthermore, recent reports suggest Mainoo has agreed to a potential move to Napoli in January. The Italian club is reportedly optimistic about securing his services, with Mainoo apparently willing to consider a loan arrangement.”
Even if Mainoo had plenty of chances during the holiday season to demonstrate his value to United, it’s highly improbable he’d keep a place in the starting eleven once Mbeumo is fit again, or compete with Cunha in the attacking midfield roles.
This is because, as Amorim has stated unequivocally, he doesn’t view Mainoo as suitable for those positions. The choice is essentially between him and Bruno Fernandes, and Fernandes is the clear favorite and priority for that role.
