MU legend points out the player worthy of being the team's focal point

Rio Ferdinand expressed a daring opinion regarding Kobbie Mainoo following the young Man United player's absence from the pitch in the match against Fulham.

In this match, coach Ruben Amorim chose the midfield duo of Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, similar to the previous game against Arsenal. Although Casemiro was substituted in the second half as MU struggled against Fulham's pressing style, Amorim still did not give an opportunity to Mainoo. Instead, he moved Mason Mount to a deeper role and later replaced him with Manuel Ugarte.

Mainoo sitting on the bench for the entire 90 minutes disappointed many Red Devils fans, as the 20-year-old is regarded as one of the most promising talents from the MU academy.

After the match, former defender Rio Ferdinand spoke up in defense of the young player. On his personal YouTube channel, Ferdinand described Mainoo as a “system player,” meaning he requires a team setup tailored to his style to fully display his abilities.

Ferdinand explained: “Mainoo possesses exceptional talent, but he needs a system to truly shine. Similar to Phil Foden at Man City, only when placed in the right tactical structurecan they perform at their highest level. Meanwhile, players like Cole Palmer can adapt to any team.”

According to the former MU star, this partly explains why Amorim has not yet trusted Mainoo. Currently, MU’s midfield revolves around Bruno Fernandes, an almost irreplaceable figure. The defensive midfield role remains with Casemiro or Ugarte, which limits Mainoo’s chances to find a suitable role.

Some opinions suggest that Mainoo is currently seen more as a backup option for Bruno Fernandes rather than a main choice in Amorim’s formation. If Bruno were pushed further forward to play as a number 10, Mainoo’s chances to play would increase. However, the addition of Benjamin Sesko in the attack might make the Portuguese coach prefer to keep Bruno as the “playmaker,” further reducing the young midfielder’s opportunities.

In reality, Mainoo is not the only player “missing” at Old Trafford. Joshua Zirkzee also remained on the bench for the second consecutive match, despite MU needing goals and Amorim even bringing on Harry Maguire in the final minutes.

With a tough schedule ahead, fans hope Amorim will give Mainoo more playing time. Without regular minutes, the development of the player considered “the future of MU’s midfield” could be significantly hindered.