Manchester United's rising star shows interest in Real Madrid, dreaming of a loan move to the Bernabéu this winter window! Permanent transfer not considered for now

The Spanish outlet "Defensa Central" reports that Manchester United academy midfielder Kobe Meno has shown interest in Real Madrid and is open to a loan move to join Xabi Alonso's squad for the rest of the season with the "Galácticos."

Rumors about Meno departing United have never ceased this year because the 20-year-old English international has not only lost his place in the starting lineup but also barely gets any minutes on the pitch. He needs to move to secure regular playing time to rejoin Tuchel’s national team roster for the 2026 World Cup next year.

England has already qualified for the USA-Mexico-Canada World Cup, but Meno’s spot is uncertain. If he doesn’t get more game time, England has plenty of midfield options to choose from. Notably, players like Crystal Palace’s tough midfielder Adam Walton are patiently waiting for Tuchel’s call-up.

Spanish media suggest that Real Madrid might be open to Meno’s transfer. They currently have no plans for any permanent signings, but a loan deal for Manchester United’s new star could be a good option. It will be interesting to see if Real Madrid makes an offer to finalize this deal.

Whether Meno can move to Real Madrid in January remains to be seen. Alonso needs to strengthen midfield depth, and if this loan can provide Meno with consistent playing opportunities in the second half of the season, his chances of representing England at the World Cup will significantly improve.

Moreover, if Meno performs well at the Bernabéu, Real Madrid might decide to sign him permanently in the future, which would be a huge opportunity for any player. Napoli, the Serie A champions, and some Premier League clubs are also interested in Meno.

Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano stated that Manchester United and Meno’s situation may be reassessed in the coming months. "Everyone, the situation with Meno will definitely be reviewed again in the next few months," Romano said. "Currently, he is not causing any problems, he trains hard, gives his all at United, but he is not a regular starter and wants playing time."

Regarding the current status, Romano explained: "Since August, nothing has changed. Back then, Manchester United told him: 'You can’t leave, you have to stay here, no loans either.' Meno only wants a loan, not a permanent move. We will see again in January since it is only early October now."

Meno’s playing time will determine his next steps. "If by late November or early December he still cannot play regularly, his transfer could become a focal point in the January window. Manchester United wants him to stay, Ruben Amorim wants him to stay, and this stance has been clear since August. However, Meno wants to be a starter."

Romano concluded: "For now, he can only keep training hard and prepare for Manchester United, but in January, Meno’s situation might attract interest again. Clubs from England, Spain, and Italy want to loan him; Napoli isn’t the only suitor. So, let’s keep an eye on this."

Meno’s defensive abilities are considered insufficient in Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation. Former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol commented: "In my view, Meno’s ball control is stable, but defensively when the opponent has the ball, he doesn’t do enough. You could even say he is inactive off the ball. He fails to stop opponents attacking United’s defense, which is one of United’s biggest issues, and he hasn’t improved in this regard. Basically, opponents exploit this weakness, and when playing for a top club, you must contribute both offensively and defensively. Meno’s defense is poor, so Casemiro is preferred ahead of him in the starting XI. This highlights his problem, and his attacking game isn’t as good as it was early in his career."

Amorim has openly demanded more from Meno. The Manchester United talent’s reaction has been to promote his extra training on social media, but his style on the pitch hasn’t changed. "It seems his work rate is still not high enough," Nicol said. "If any coach feels a player isn’t giving his all, he won’t pick him. If you’re the United manager and see Meno repeatedly allowing opponents to move freely while showing indifference, you obviously won’t play him."