Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo could be on the verge of leaving Old Trafford, with reports suggesting a deal is 99 percent complete for a move to Serie A side Napoli.
The 20-year-old England international has experienced a dramatic decline in playing time under new manager Ruben Amorim this season. After starring in United’s FA Cup final victory over Manchester City and starting in the Euro 2024 final for England just over a year ago, Mainoo has been reduced to only 10 Premier League substitute appearances this season, totaling just 183 minutes.
According to Italian outlet AreaNapoli, journalist Luca Cerchione reported receiving information from an associate of Napoli assistant manager Stellini about significant progress in negotiations. The journalist indicated that discussions have reached an advanced stage, though the nature of the deal remains uncertain.
Previous reporting from The Athletic suggested Mainoo requested to leave on loan in January, having made a similar request at the end of the summer transfer window. However, the latest reports suggest a more permanent transfer could materialize.
The situation appears linked to Amorim’s tactical preferences. The Portuguese manager employs a strict 3-4-2-1 formation with specific requirements that Mainoo reportedly doesn’t fulfill. United are said to be waiting until after the Africa Cup of Nations—which will see Bryan Mbeumo, Noussair Mazraoui, and Amad depart—before making a final decision on the midfielder’s future.
If the move goes through, Mainoo would follow fellow United academy graduate Scott McTominay to Serie A. McTominay has thrived at Napoli, earning Serie A MVP honors and finishing 18th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or standings.
Mainoo is valued at approximately €40 million according to Transfermarkt. Manchester United next face Bournemouth when Premier League action resumes this weekend.
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