“Brilliant” Manchester United youngster ‘open’ to January Serie A switch

Kobbie Mainoo. (REUTERS)

Manchester United’s revival under Rúben Amorim continues to take shape, with last weekend’s 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur extending their unbeaten Premier League run to five games.

A dramatic late header from Matthijs de Ligt rescued a point for the Reds, keeping them in the hunt for European places and showing a clear improvement on the turmoil of last season.

Amorim’s tactical influence has restored structure, energy and belief to a squad that previously looked adrift — with players like Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha thriving.

However, one player who has struggled to find his place in the new setup is Kobbie Mainoo.

The 20-year-old midfielder, once hailed as “brilliant” by club legend Gary Neville, has yet to start a Premier League match this season and is growing increasingly frustrated by his lack of opportunities.

That frustration could soon lead to a change of scenery.

According to TEAMtalk, Mainoo is open to a January move to Napoli, with Manchester United understood to be willing to sanction an exit — provided certain conditions are met.

Napoli, currently leading Serie A under Antonio Conte, are believed to view Mainoo as the final piece in their title and Champions League push. The Italian side are reportedly prepared to meet United’s financial demands to secure his signature.

Sources close to the player suggest Mainoo is intrigued by the prospect of following in the footsteps of Scott McTominay — who has flourished in Naples since his move — and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who has rebuilt his career at AC Milan.

“Kobbie sees the pathway,” one insider told TEAMtalk. “Regular football in a title race and Europe is exactly what he needs for the World Cup.”

While his preference would be to stay in the Premier League, Mainoo is said to be increasingly convinced that a spell in Italy could offer the regular minutes and high-level experience he needs to develop further.

With Amorim favouring a more experienced core in midfield, a short-term or even permanent switch abroad may now be the best step for one of England’s brightest young prospects.

Barnaby Lane is a highly experienced sports writer who has written for The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, Sports Illustrated, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider.

Over the years, he's had the pleasure of interviewing some of the biggest names in world sport, including Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and more.