Roy Keane has frowned upon the behaviour of Kobbie Mainoo’s half-brother, who was seen wearing a “Free Kobbie” T-shirt during the 4-4 chaotic Premier League match between Manchester United and Bournemouth at Old Trafford.
By taking several pictures wearing the controversial shirt, Jordan Mainoo-Hames not only attracted attention, but also his actions led to a news headline. According to Keane, the move put the young midfielder under unnecessary pressure. It is still mysterious to what extent Mainoo might have been involved in the prank, but Keane is of the opinion that the stunt has done more harm than good.
Keane talked about the incident on the Stick to Football podcast, where he called it an unwise act and stressed the need for Mainoo to be the only thing in the spotlight. He said he couldn’t have been done without the knowledge of the player and said that distractions like this from family members can stop a footballer’s career from moving forward.
Kobie Mainoo has had a tough season as he his sitting on the bench regularly rather than being on the pitch under Ruben Amorim. He has just started one match, which was in the Carabao Cup loss to League Two side Grimsby Town. It is rumoured that the midfielder has made a request for a loan move before the January transfer window; however, United are only willing to allow a departure if a top offer comes in.
Keane, on the other hand, was of the view that Mainoo had to remain and contend for his spot, as patience and resilience are crucial when one is at the level of a club like United. It seems that even with Casemiro’s suspension, Mainoo won’t get a starting role against Aston Villa as Manuel Ugarte is expected to be the one to take the field, further adding to the young midfielder’s growing irritation.
