- Mainoo demands a loan exit from Man Utd
- Club refuses and insists he stays put
- Several teams monitoring situation
According to The Athletic, Mainoo made his stance clear during a crunch meeting on Thursday. While he stressed his love for the club and insisted he has no plans to sever ties, Mainoo believes his career is being stalledwithout consistent game time. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, the youngster is adamant he cannot afford to sit idle.
The response from the Old Trafford hierarchy was swift and firm. United chiefs told Mainoo they view him as a central figure for the present and future, not a player to farm out elsewhere. Despite his frustration at being overlooked in the opening weeks, the academy graduate has been told in no uncertain terms to stay and fight for his place. Officials believe Mainoo’s long-term development will be best served under their watch.
Mainoo’s irritation has been bubbling for weeks. He was an unused substitute in both of United’s opening Premier League fixtures: a limp 1-0 defeat to Arsenal and a 1-1 draw with Fulham. His only start so far came in the Carabao Cup humiliation against Grimsby, where United were dumped out by the fourth-tier side in round two on penalties.
Bayern Munich discreetly explored the idea of a move but never pursued a concrete bid. Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen, now managed by Erik ten Hag, were keen to reunite the midfielder with the man who first championed him at United. But financial restrictions made a deal virtually impossible. Spanish giants Real Madrid were also reportedly keento sign him on loan, but have since cooled their interest.
Mainoo looks set to stay at United for the time being then, and it will be interesting to see if he features at all in Saturday’s visit of Burnley.
