Man Utd told to pull out of Kobbie Mainoo contract talks immediately | Football | Sport

Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha has called on the club to postpone contract discussions with Kobbie Mainoo and focus on giving him more playing time, as he returns to the starting lineup under Michael Carrick. The 20-year-old’s future appeared uncertain during the opening half of the season, as he found it difficult to secure a regular spot in the team under former manager Ruben Amorim.

The Portuguese boss suggested that Mainoo was competing with club captain Bruno Fernandes for the deeper midfield role in a two-man partnership – sparking speculation about a potential January departure. With Amorim’s departure and his place in the side restored under Carrick, Mainoo has demonstrated his ability upon his return, delivering impressive performances in Premier League victories against Manchester City and Arsenal.

However, longer-term questions persist regarding the academy product, whose current deal runs until 2027, with reports suggesting United are eager to begin discussions about enhanced terms and an extended contract.

Saha believes the emphasis should remain firmly on football matters, telling gambling.com: “No, no, no, I think this is like good talk for the media and his agent and all that, to him. What he has to do is score more goals, assist more, play well and progress. That’s it.

“Whatever, like that, people talk about contracts and stuff like this, you know, it’s not good for him. He’s only a young player who, yes, maybe played for England – and has a World Cup to look forward to. He has to improve. That’s it.

“Why are they thinking about contract extension, moving away, looking at McTominay’s career or whatever? It’s wrong. Just play, just play, just play, improve every day.

“It’s two games, that’s not enough. He needs to score maybe ten goals, and then become the main man in midfield with Casemiro – and then people will give him the contract he wants. That’s it. He doesn’t need anyone else to speak about this extension, and think about this now.

“It’s just about focusing on this game. He hasn’t played for many months. He was on the bench. Now it’s time for consistency. Get 15 games under his belt, bring him to the World Cup and see how it goes.”

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There remains optimism that following a faltering beginning to the campaign under United’s previous manager, the change in leadership can finally unlock Mainoo’s potential once more, as he has demonstrated previously.

Regarding Mainoo’s treatment under Amorim, when Saha was questioned whether it was unjust or warranted, he responded: “It was a bit of both because, obviously, Amorim had different plans.

“So on those plans, it needed a bit of a different type of player in midfield. That doesn’t mean at all that Kobbie Mainoo was not a good player. No, no, no, I think this is like good talk for the media and his agent and all that, to him. What he has to do is score more goals, assist more, play well and progress. That’s it.

“It’s just that he wasn’t fitting the style of Amorim, so that’s why it’s like, okay, fair to him. He’s the manager, he decided to challenge the player and make him improve in a certain way to actually bring something else to his game.

“Because maybe Amorim was really fixed on that, really focused on that piece. I think maybe in some games he was wrong, in some others he was not. Some, as I said, we definitely needed more legs or more confidence, more, let’s say, capacity to break down the opposition. It was not the case.

“We were too slow and, now, because of a different type of game and rhythm, we managed to get Mainoo and other players in that kind of frame where those guys are playing without the need to run around like a chicken without a head. So it’s a different type of mentality, and every manager learns; they are still learning.

“Even Alex Ferguson, at his age, in his prime, was still learning some games where, okay, I made these mistakes. I think Amorim will see a few things that he could have done better, and a few he did really well.

“Michael Carrick will make mistakes as well, and Kobbie Mainoo could be less of the focal point, because he’s going to be in a team that’s working. The strikers play their part, the midfielders play their part, and the defenders.

“Like, I see Maguire and Martinez; it’s the core that needs to be very strong, not just one player. That was maybe the kind of mistake that has been made. No, no, no, I think this is like good talk for the media and his agent and all that, to him. What he has to do is score more goals, assist more, play well and progress. That’s it.

“You know, the kind of foundation where a team provides the challenge, and more than players provide challenges. If there were no Bruno Fernandes, or if he’s not performing, you’re dead. That was the problem for United. It’s over. The team needs to be working together, having advantage physically, mentally and technically.”