Paul Scholes has hit out at Ruben Amorim’s treatment of Kobbie Mainoo – saying it is ‘bulls***’ that the midfielder cannot get a game for ‘a team that can’t control a game of football’.
The United legend, 51, launched the furious rebuttal after Amorim said he considers Mainoo ‘a starter just like the other players’ despite having started him just once all season.
‘I see him as a starter like the other players,’ the United boss said last Friday. ‘I just have to make a choice and then in the end, it’s not been Kobbie.
‘In the future, I don’t know. Again, I always think the same thing with Casemiro. [He] was not playing and then he plays. I just want to win games. I don’t care who is playing.’
But after Amorim left Mainoo on the bench again on Thursday evening when trying to hold on to a 1-0 lead over West Ham, Scholes took to Instagram to vent his fury at the handling of the 20-year-old.
‘Bulls***,’ Scholes posted in response to Amorim’s comments. ‘The kid is being ruined, not being played in a team that can’t control a game of football. Hate seeing home grown players leave but it’s probably best for him now, enough is enough.’
Mainoo could only watch on from the bench as Mason Mount, Manuel Ugarte, Patrick Dorgu, Leny Yoro and Lisandro Martinez were brought on before United conceded a late goal against the Hammers.
When asked about the changes being defensively minded post-match, Amorim said he was worried about his side losing the second balls. He then asked the reporter who could have been a more attacking change and when confronted with Mainoo’s name, the United boss responded with a laugh.
The 20-year-old midfielder, who had a breakthrough two campaigns ago, has just 171 Premier League minutes this season. His only start came in United’s shock cup defeat to Grimsby Town in August.
Mainoo was most recently brought on as an injury time substitute against Crystal Palace last weekend while United were holding on to a 2-1 lead, and looked visibly displeased.
Scholes’ calls for Mainoo to find a new club appear to be shared by a significant portion of the United support, who are keen for their homegrown talent to get minutes.
He was linked with a summer switch to Napoli, and the Serie A champions are reportedly swirling again for a January move.
