Kobbie Mainoo came within a whisker of quitting Manchester United last summer, with Arsenal lurking in the shadows ready to pounce.
The Red Devils midfield jewel was left baffled after being frozen out by former boss Ruben Amorim, a decision that left fans and teammates scratching their heads.
Napoli had even sounded out a loan move. But according to the Daily Mail, it was Arsenal who was leading the chase among Prem clubs, waiting to see if Mainoo would crack.
Then everything changed.
Michael Carrick stepped into the dugout and suddenly the young Englishman was reborn. Under the former United legend, Mainoo has started every single match bar one (when he was crocked). His form since has been nothing short of breathtaking.
“I always believed,” Mainoo said after a recent masterclass. “But sometimes you need someone to believe in you back.”
The academy kid has never hid his love for the club. Even during the darkest days under Amorim, he refused to consider a permanent exit. A temporary loan? Maybe. But walking away for good? Never.
“His loyalty is off the scale,” a dressing room source said. “Some lads would’ve kicked up a stink. He just got his head down.”
Fast forward to now, and Mainoo is one of the first names on Carrick’s teamsheet. His energy, composure and driving runs have turned him into a cult hero among the Stretford End.
In other news, Arsenal booked their place in the Champions League final yesterday after dumping out Atletico Madrid. They’ll face either PSG or Bayern Munich in Budapest later this month.
But back in Manchester, the real story remains the same: how close United came to losing their brightest talent and how a twist of fate, and a change in the dugout, saved them from a nightmare.
