Kobbie Mainoo distances himself from t-shirt controversy amid Napoli links ​

Manchester United are aware that selling Kobbie Mainoo could spark a fierce reaction from parts of the fanbase, and the debate around his future has intensified after a recent off‑field incident.

The midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to Italian side Napoli ahead of the January transfer window, adding extra scrutiny to everything around him.

The controversy began when Mainoo’s brother, Jordan Mainoo‑Hames, was photographed in the Old Trafford stands wearing a “Free Kobbie Mainoo” T‑shirt during a United game earlier this week. However, sources close to the 20‑year‑old insist he did not know about the gesture beforehand and played no part in it, stressing that he has no desire to disrespect the club he has represented throughout his entire football journey.

Head coach Ruben Amorim has addressed the situation internally and made it clear that the incident will not affect his team selections. He confirmed that the T‑shirt saga will have no bearing on whether Mainoo starts the upcoming Premier League match against Aston Villa, as decisions will be based purely on football reasons.