Kobbie Mainoo's Man Utd Future Secured: Carrick's Influence on Staying Put

Mainoo enjoyed a breakout season for United in 2023-24, with the then-teenager helping the club win that season's FA Cup. He then starred for England in their run to the finals of the European Championships, and at the time, it seemed the only way was up. However, Amorim's arrival in late 2024 changed things. Over time, the Red Devils academy product has been relegated to the fringes of the first team, so much so that his first Premier League start of this campaign came in the 2-0 win over City at the weekend - weeks after Amorim's dismissal. Before the Portuguese was given his marching orders, the ex-Sporting CP boss steadfastly stuck to the view that he always plays his best team, suggesting Mainoo was not part of that group. In early December, he said: "I see it. I just want to win, I try to put the players, I don't look who it is, I don't care about that, I'm just trying to put the best players on the pitch. You have [Manuel] Ugarte that played two games. One of them, Case[miro], was out, Bruno [Fernandes], he's always fit, he's the guy that is doing his position, so maybe it has to do with that." While he didn't play Mainoo a great deal, he did add that the youngster was "the future" of United. Mainoo's United future has been the topic of discussion for nearly a year now, with the 20-year-old yet to sign an extension on his deal that ends in 2027. Reports suggested that the Red Devils didn't want to sell the England ace in January but following Carrick's arrival, it seems Mainoo will stay at United for the rest of the season, at the very least. According to Fabrizio Romano, the midfielder is expected to stay at Old Trafford off the back of the 'instant trust' Carrick has shown him. But his contract will remain a 'key topic' in the coming months.