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KOBBIE MAINOO STAYING AT MANCHESTER UNITED AFTER MICHAEL CARRICK BLOCKS NAPOLI LOAN

Kobbie Mainoo rejects Napoli loan after Michael Carrick’s intervention. Discover why the boss sees him as a key attacker.

Kobbie Mainoo staying at Manchester United after Michael Carrick blocks Napoli loan
The Amorim era failed Mainoo

Kobbie Mainoo isn’t going anywhere this winter. After sitting down with Michael Carrick, he’s now set to stay at Manchester United, at least for the rest of the season. Carrick, now in charge, challenged Mainoo to prove Ruben Amorim wrong for benching him so often.

Saturday’s Manchester derby was a big deal for Mainoo—it was the first time he’d started a Premier League game since May. He also finished the full 90 minutes, something he hadn’t done since that ugly Carabao Cup loss to Grimsby Town back in August.

As soon as Darren Fletcher took over, Mainoo was back in the squad and got a run-out against Burnley after weeks on the sidelines. Then he started in the FA Cup against Brighton, and when he kept his spot for the City match, that made it two starts in a row—each one under a different interim manager.

Somewhere between those games, Carrick made it clear: Mainoo’s a key part of his plans now. He told the young midfielder to focus on making his mark at his boyhood club and to show everyone that Amorim made a mistake leaving him out.

So Napoli can forget about signing him on loan. Mainoo had been in talks with them for weeks, but that’s all off the table now. His head’s back at United, thanks to Carrick’s influence.

Carrick’s always been a fan. Before stepping into the manager’s role, he talked up Mainoo in an interview with Rio Ferdinand last summer. “For a club like United, it’s huge to have a player who’s grown up here and really gets the place. You want to build around those guys. United’s always done that and always should.

“With talent like his, you have to help them grow, give them support, stick with them. There’s definitely a spot for him.”

Carrick went on: “He’s more of an attacker to me, not a holding midfielder. He plays better a bit further up, with more freedom.

“There’s more than one way to defend. You can press higher up the pitch, but dropping deep in front of your centre-backs is a different job. I’ve watched him play higher, with freedom to create, get on the ball, and make things happen. His future’s huge.

“I really like him. He just needs a bit of patience and another chance, and I’m sure he’ll get it. He’s already shown what he can do.

“It’s just so refreshing—how he takes the ball, drives forward, commits defenders, passes, and dribbles. That’s not going to disappear. Young players go through ups and downs, but he’s got it. I’ve seen it plenty of times.”

STOPPAGE TIME SAVER: BENJAMIN SESKO RESCUES MICHAEL CARRICK’S UNBEATEN STREAK AT WEST HAM

Benjamin Sesko saved Manchester United with a 96th-minute flick after Tomas Soucek put West Ham ahead. Read the full 2026 report.

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Benjamin Sesko’s magic flick earns Manchester United a dramatic point

Manchester United left it late, grabbing a dramatic draw against West Ham at the London Stadium. Tomas Soucek seemed to have won it for the Hammers with his second-half goal, but Benjamin Sesko popped up in stoppage time with a clever finish to snatch a point for United, who’ve been on a good run. The first half really dragged. United couldn’t break West Ham down at all. Everyone in a claret shirt just sat deep. Luke Shaw came closest, but Aaron Wan-Bissaka cleared his shot off the line.

After the break, things actually got interesting. Four minutes in, Soucek bundled one in from close range. Casemiro thought he’d levelled things up after an hour, but VAR ruled his header out for offside. Both teams had chances as the clock ran down, but it was Sesko who finally found the net deep into stoppage time, saving United right at the end.

Man United player ratings vs West Ham

Senne Lammens – 6

Came up big early to deny Summerville from a distance. No chance with Soucek’s goal.

Diogo Dalot – 4

Had a tough time with Summerville’s pace and kept giving the ball away. Picked up a needless yellow.

Lisandro Martínez – 6

Easily the most composed passer at the back, breaking lines a few times. Solid defensively for the most part.

Luke Shaw – 5

Almost scored in the first half, but his shot was cleared off the line. Then stepped out of position before Soucek’s goal, which cost United.

Casemiro – 7

Pretty solid in midfield—broke up play and timed his tackles well. Scored with a header, but it didn’t count.

Kobbie Mainoo – 6

Kept things ticking in the middle but couldn’t really hurt West Ham. Lost Soucek for the goal.

Amad – 5

Had a decent look before halftime but hit the side netting. Didn’t offer his usual spark.

Matheus Cunha – 4

Barely got involved. Dropped deep to get on the ball but didn’t do anything with it.

Bryan Mbeumo – 5

Ran hard, tracked back, and helped defensively, but didn’t threaten much in attack.

Joshua Zirkzee – 6

Came on for Maguire for the last 20 minutes and made a couple of crucial blocks as West Ham pressed for another.

Benjamin Sesko – 7

Subbed in for Cunha in the second half and poked home in stoppage time to grab United a point.

DISCOVER WHICH MANCHESTER UNITED STARS WILL MISS THE WEST HAM CLASH

Michael Carrick confirms Mason Mount and Matthijs de Ligt will miss Manchester United’s clash with West Ham as the win streak nears 5.

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Michael Carrick Confirms Mason Mount Out For Manchester United vs West Ham

Here’s the latest on Man United’s injury list and who’s likely to return when they take on West Ham.

Man United head to the London Stadium on Tuesday night without three key players. All of them are still recovering. Michael Carrick, who’s already chalked up four straight wins since taking over, is aiming to stretch that run to five. United are right in the mix for a Champions League spot now, just three points off third-placed Aston Villa.

They’ll want to keep racking up points, but after the West Ham game, there’s nearly a two-week gap before they play Everton. That’s not enough time for any of the injured guys to make it back for West Ham, though Carrick’s hoping at least one of them will be ready for the Everton trip later this month.

So, who’s out? The same trio that missed the weekend win over the Spurs. None of them will feature in East London. De Ligt hasn’t played since beating Crystal Palace at the end of November. Carrick says it’s still too soon to predict exactly when he’ll be fit again.

Dorgu is dealing with a hamstring injury from the Arsenal match last month. He’ll be out for about two months and probably won’t return until after the March international break. Mount has already missed the last two games after picking up a small knock in training. He won’t make it in time for West Ham, but Carrick expects him back to face Everton.

“Mason probably won’t be ready for Tuesday, probably after, but definitely by the Everton game, he’ll be back,” Carrick told reporters before the match. “Matta, we’ll see how he gets on… the Everton game still feels a way off, so we’ll just have to watch his progress. He’s doing well, heading in the right direction, but Mason’s a bit closer.”

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