Lamine Yamal surpasses Kylian Mbappe! Barcelona wonderkid makes Champions League history in style by breaking record in Frankfurt comeback

Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal added another record to his collection on Tuesday night in the Champions League. His assist for Jules Kounde in Barca's 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt means that he now has more goal involvements in the competition than any other player aged 18 or under, breaking the record previously held by Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe.

  • Barcelona come from behind to seal win

    Barcelona were made to work hard for their three points against Eintracht Frankfurt at Camp Nou on Tuesday night. The Catalan giants went 1-0 down thanks to an opening goal from Ansgar Knauff, but hit back after the break to seal the win. Two goals from Kounde were enough for victory, with Marcus Rashford and Yamal bagging assists in the game for Hansi Flick's side.

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    Yamal overtakes Mbappe with assist

    Yamal set up Barcelona's winner for Kounde which means he has now been directly involved in 14 goals (seven goals and seven assists) in the Champions League for Barcelona. The 18-year-old therefore overtakes Mbappe (ten goals and three assists) for the most goal involvements by a player aged 18 or younger in the competition’s history. Yamal is likely to add to that tally too, as he does not celebrate his 19th birthday until July, giving him plenty more time to add more Champions League goals and assists to his collection.

  • Yamal banned for Barcelona's next UCL game

    However, Yamal will be forced to watch Barcelona's next Champions League match from the sidelines. The teenager picked up his third booking of the 2025-26 competition against Eintracht Frankfurt which brings an automatic one-match suspension. Flick will therefore will have to cope with his brilliant wonderkid for Barcelona's next European outing in January against Slavia Prague.

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  • Flick admits teenager unhappy at being subbed

    Yamal was substituted late in the game against Eintracht Frankfurt and appeared to be less than impressed with the decision to take him off before the final whistle at Camp Nou. Flick was asked about his teenage star after the game and spoke about the decision to replace him. He told reporters: "Lamine was a little disappointed when he came on, but he had a yellow card and needed fresh legs. These are three very important points. We controlled the game; it was a very difficult match. They defended very deep. We have to focus on ourselves and get six more points."

Man Utd snap up wonderkid who bounced back from Arsenal and Tottenham rejections to sign Old Trafford deal

Manchester United have finalised the signing of 13-year-old defender Socrates, a rising prospect who rebounded from failed trials at Arsenal, Tottenham and Crystal Palace before earning a place at Old Trafford. The Elite London Academy product has impressed scouts with his maturity and intelligence, completing a move that highlights United’s renewed focus on youth recruitment under INEOS.

Man Utd sign 13-year-old defender Socrates

United have secured the signature of 13-year-old centre-back Socrates following an impressive trial period that convinced academy staff he was ready for the step up. The London-born prospect will relocate to Manchester, combining his football development with a place at a high-performing school in the area as part of his long-term pathway at the club. Having spent five years at the Elite London Academy, he evolved from a promising winger into a composed and technically refined defender, catching the attention of Premier League sides across the country.

Before joining United, Socrates underwent trials at Arsenal, Tottenham and Crystal Palace, experiences that did not lead to formal registration but proved instrumental in sharpening his mindset and improving his game, which eventually helped him sign with United.

His signing aligns with the Red Devils' current recruitment strategy, which emphasises identifying emerging talent early and providing an environment designed to accelerate long-term growth. United have become increasingly proactive in targeting elite prospects across Europe and South America, making Socrates part of a broader youth-focused rebuild.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportElite London Academy open up on Socrates' move

Posting on Instagram, the Elite London Academy celebrated the move and praised both the player and his journey: “From ELA ➝ Signing for one of the biggest club in the world. Today we congratulate Socrates on officially signing for Manchester United. Socrates has been with us for five years — five years of development, hard work and belief.”

The academy highlighted his standout qualities and early promise: “From the moment he joined Elite London Academy, you could see he had something special: technically gifted, intelligent on the ball, brave in duels, and always hungry to learn. Along his journey, we organised trials for him at Arsenal, Tottenham and Crystal Palace. He completed full trials at these clubs but these did not result in registration. Arguably, missed opportunities for the clubs.”

ELA then praised his response to adversity, calling him a model professional even at 13: “But what makes Socrates different is how he responded. He didn’t sulk. He didn’t lose confidence. He showed resilience, maturity and a mindset far beyond his age. Instead, he pushed harder. Soon exciting opportunities have followed. Socrates was offered registration at a top Cat 1 club in the North in August after a successful trial.”

Finally, they explained why he chose United and praised his character: “However, he declined the offer as the school opportunity did not feel it would stretch him fully. His reading of the game, distribution, physical presence and calmness under pressure have grown to elite standards.

"Off the pitch, he’s exactly the type of boy every academy wants: Humble, well-mannered, intelligent, respectful and driven. And behind him is a family who supports him in all the right ways — patient, positive, and trusting the process.”

AFPINEOS pushing for massive youth signings at Man Utd

Socrates' arrival at United comes during a renewed emphasis on the academy system, where INEOS are pushing for a stronger link between youth development and future first-team integration. The club has widened its scouting network considerably, aiming to identify high-potential youngsters before they are priced out of reach or locked into long-term contracts elsewhere. As part of this shift, United have targeted players not only on technical ability but also on psychological attributes, making resilience and maturity key indicators of long-term potential.

The move also comes at a time when United’s youth system is seeing a wave of new talent. Charlie Hardy and Cristian Orozco represent the club’s desire to fortify key positions early, with Hardy viewed as a long-term goalkeeper option and Orozco projected as a future midfield anchor. Socrates’ addition adds defensive depth to the younger age groups and ensures United continue to build a balanced academy pipeline.

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Socrates set to join Man Utd's U14 squad

Socrates will now join Manchester United’s U14 squad, where his immediate focus will be adapting to the club’s training methods, increasing his physical robustness and settling into his new academic environment. The expectation is not for rapid acceleration but for steady, long-term development, with coaches planning a personalised programme to nurture his natural attributes. United’s hope is that he will progress through the age groups and eventually earn a scholarship deal at 16.

For Manchester United, this signing is another step toward re-establishing their academy as one of Europe’s strongest talent factories. With more young players being integrated into development squads and the club widening its global recruitment footprint, United are clearly planning for a future where homegrown talent plays a major role.

Yankees Make Unwanted Club History As They Suffer Third Straight Shutout Loss

If the New York Yankees are the favorites to repeat as American League champions, they haven't been playing like it in recent days.

On Tuesday, Los Angeles Angels pitcher Kyle Hendricks turned back the clock and dominated the Yankees 4–0 to hand New York its third consecutive shutout loss. That came on the heels of a 2–0 loss to the Boston Red Sox Sunday and a 1–0 loss to the Angels Monday.

Per Baseball Reference's database, the game marked the seventh instance in history of the Yankees being shut out three times in a row.

Previous instances included 1908 against the Washington Senators, 1929 against the St. Louis Browns, 1960 against the Kansas City Athletics and Baltimore Orioles, 1968 against the California Angels and Chicago White Sox, 1975 against the Red Sox and Detroit Tigers, and 2016 against the Toronto Blue Jays.

New York won the pennant in '60, the only one of those six years where they made the playoffs. The Yankees have to hope 2025 ends in a similar fashion.

Pitbull Had Hilarious Joke for Reds Manager Terry Francona Before Speedway Classic

The Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves will meet at Bristol Motor Speedway Saturday night for Major League Baseball's Speedway Classic.

It's the first regular season MLB game to take place in the state of Tennessee and the first in the middle of a race track. Plus, a record-setting number of fans are slated to attend thanks to the capacity of just under 150,000 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The league pulled out all the stops for the occasion, which includes a pregame concert headlined by Grammy award winning artists Pitbull and Tim McGraw. The fusion between music and baseball led to some crossovers that you could never dream up. Reds star Elly De La Cruz threw a couple batting practice pitches to McGraw (yes, that's a real sentence). Reds manager Terry Francona even met up with Pitbull, who had the perfect comment as the pair bonded over their shaved heads.

As Francona went to shake Pitbull's hand and explain a time they met before, Mr. 305 quipped back with a great response.

"Actually, you go to the same barber, that's what you were going to say?" he hilariously said to Francona as the two chuckled.

Reds relief pitcher Brent Suter came prepared to meet Mr. Worldwide, revealing a bald cap he had on under a cowboy hat:

First pitch between the Reds and the Braves at Bristol Motor Speedway is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET. A full field was constructed inside the track for the event. The MLB announced last Monday that more than 85,000 tickets were sold to date, which would eclipse the previous paid attendance record of 84,587 set at Cleveland Stadium in 1954.

Haaland loves him: Everton join race to sign UCL goalscorer who wants PL move

Everton have now reportedly joined the race to sign a Champions League goalscorer in the January transfer window who Erling Haaland loves.

Everton offered chance to sign Evan Ferguson

Thierno Barry may have broken his goal drought, but that won’t be enough to stop Everton from targeting another forward in the January transfer window, according to reports. The Toffees, with their European ambitions in mind, have reportedly been offered the chance to sign Evan Ferguson if AS Roma cut his loan spell short.

Everton now ready to pounce to sign £35m Premier League striker in January

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Whether those in Rome do send the Republic of Ireland striker back to Brighton & Hove Albion is the big question, however. Just when the rumours began to arrive, Ferguson scored a brace against Celtic in midweek and Brighton released the news that Stefanos Tzimas has suffered an ACL injury.

That could see Everton drop down the pecking order in the race to sign the forward, who Roma may now want to keep and who Brighton may now need back at The Amex following Tzimas’ season-ending injury.

Following his brace against Celtic, Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini told reporters: “During the game he did what he often does in training. He’s a young lad and we have to be patient. His second goal was beautiful. His performance was great, and it’s important that he plays with this spirit and shows his qualities.”

With a deal for the Brighton forward becoming more complicated overnight, Everton could decide to turn towards Bodo/Glimt star Jens Pettter Hauge when the January transfer window swings open, according to reports.

Everton join race to sign Jens Petter Hauge

According to TeamTalk, Everton have now joined the race to sign Hauge after completing their scouting mission on the Bodo/Glimt winger. The 26-year-old has rediscovered his best form since returning to Norway and is now reportedly interested in a move to the Premier League amid interest from the Toffees, Leeds United, Crystal Palace and Brighton.

After scoring in the Champions League against Borussia Dortmund in midweek, it’s easy to see why Everton are interested and it’s easy to see why Haaland is such a big fan.

After disappointing stints at AC Milan and Eintracht Frankfurt, Hauge will be hoping to make it third time lucky if he secures another big move in the January transfer window.

With 11 goals and 11 assists to his name in all competitions in Norway this season, the talent is certainly there for all to see as Everton eye a potential 2026 move ahead of their Premier League rivals.

Dewsbury-Hall repeat: PL talent ready to leave his club with Everton keen

Get rid: Rangers flop must never play a game under Danny Rohl

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl is only a few weeks away from having the chance to make changes to his playing squad for the first time since he joined the club.

The German boss arrived after the summer transfer window, which was spearheaded by Russell Martin and Kevin Thelwell, which means that he does not have any of his own signings.

Whilst the former Sheffield Wednesday boss will want to make some signings of his own to bolster the squad, Rohl may also want to move some of the current players on in the January transfer window.

The Rangers players who should be let go in January

There are several current first-team duds who should be moved on ahead of the second half of the season because they do not look like key players for the new manager.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Clinton Nsiala, for example, is yet to play a single minute of football in the 2025/26 campaign, per Transfermarkt, and has only made the matchday squad on four occasions.

With John Souttar, Derek Cornelius, Nasser Djiga, and Emmanuel Fernandez ahead of him in the pecking order when fit, an exit in January could be the best move for his career.

Rabbi Matondo, per Transfermarkt, is another player who has not played a single minute of action this season and has not made any matchday squads, which suggests that he may be free to find a new club in January if he is not part of the manager’s plans.

Finally, Kieran Dowell should also be moved on in the winter amid reported interest from English Championship side Hull City, who are looking to sign him on loan.

Why Kieran Dowell should never play a minute under Danny Rohl

The English attacking midfielder, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Birmingham, played 384 minutes across six appearances in July and August under Martin and failed to score any goals before picking up an injury.

He was even described as “non-existent” by Heart & Hand content creator David Edgar in the 2-0 win over Panathinaikos in July, as he failed to create a single chance in 75 minutes on the pitch, per Sofascore.

Now back fit, having played for the U19s with Dujon Sterling last month, Dowell has not been involved in a single matchday squad for Rohl, per Sofascore, which suggests that he is not in the manager’s thoughts for the first-team.

With Hull said to be interested in signing him, Rangers appear to have the opportunity to move him on from Ibrox on loan for the second half of the season, before his contract expires in the summer, per Transfermarkt.

The Light Blues would, therefore, be allowing him to leave on a free transfer after his loan spell at Hull ends, which would give the Tigers a chance to assess whether or not they want to sign him permanently ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

On top of having that option, Dowell should also not play a single minute for Rohl between now and January because Lyall Cameron would be a better player to bring in if the manager wants to change his attacking midfielder.

Appearances

12

33

Goals

0

9

Conversion rate

0%

17%

Key passes per game

0.7

1.6

Big chances created

3

6

Assists

0

5

The Scottish starlet, as shown in the table above, appears far more likely to make an impact in the Scottish Premiership as an attacking midfielder, after a return of 15 goal contributions last season.

Cameron, however, has been an unused substitute in seven of the last eight games in all competitions, and in all of the last four, per Transfermarkt, which shows how difficult it is to get a place in the team under the German head coach.

Therefore, given how far down the pecking order he is, it is hard to see a situation where Dowell ends up playing any minutes on the pitch for Rangers before he has the chance to join Hull on loan at the start of next month.

This is why the former Norwich City playmaker, who has registered zero goals and one assist in six games this season, should never play for Rohl, and why he should be allowed to leave on loan in January before being released on a free transfer next summer.

Bid already submitted: Rangers could sign a "very pacy" Gassama replacement

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The left-footed flop has only provided two goals and three assists in 38 appearances for Rangers, per Transfermarkt, since his move from the Canaries in 2023, which illustrates how little he has contributed as an attacking force on the pitch in his time at Ibrox.

Amorim’s priority target: Man Utd step up interest in “special” Madrid star

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has now identified a “special” Real Madrid star as a priority target, joining several other Premier League clubs in the race for his signature.

Man Utd's attacking prowess on show in win at Molineux

Man United returned to winning ways on Monday night, putting in a quality attacking performance to secure a 4-1 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux, with Bruno Fernandes bagging a brace.

Bryan Mbeumo also bagged his sixth goal of the Premier League season in the rout, with Mason Mount getting in on the act too, and Amorim was very impressed by the Englishman’s performance.

After the attacking midfielder scooped up the Player of the Match award, Amorim said: “He can defend, he can attack, the quality when he touches the ball is really good, so it’s not a surprise for me,”

“He’s a different type of leader. It’s not like Licha [Lisandro Martinez], for example. It’s a guy that leads by the example.”

With Matheus Cunha also grabbing an assist in the routine win, which lifted United to sixth in the table, Amorim clearly has plenty of top-quality forward options at his disposal, but a Real Madrid attacker is now of interest.

That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states Man United are now stepping up their pursuit of Arda Guler, who has been identified as a priority target by Amorim ahead of next summer.

Arsenal and Liverpool are also in the race for Guler’s signature, with Arne Slot’s side believed to be leading the race as things stand, although Madrid aren’t planning to sanction a departure easily.

The Turk is viewed as an important part of the Spanish side’s long-term project, so it remains to be seen whether the Red Devils can tempt them into a sale.

"Special" Guler could be fantastic long-term signing for Man Utd

Just 20-years-old, the attacking midfielder has managed to establish himself as an important player for Real Madrid this season, amassing three goals and seven assists across 21 matches in all competitions.

Former manager Carlo Ancelotti has also waxed lyrical about the starlet, saying: “I think the closer to goal, the better. He is very effective, he scores a lot with little space, he has a special talent. He shows it better closer to the goal.”

Beckham loves him: Man Utd submit £100m+ offer to sign England superstar

INEOS are chasing their biggest deal yet…

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Having already proven himself at a high level, setting up two goals in the Champions League in 2025-26, and scoring six goals in 26 appearances for Turkey, the £87k-a-week youngster could be a fantastic long-term addition to Amorim’s squad.

He’s been described as “the single best midfield prospect in world football” by writer Neal Gardner and the fact he finished second in the 2025 Golden Boys rankings, only behind PSG’s Desire Doue, says a lot.

That said, it is somewhat difficult to envisage Madrid sanctioning a sale, given that Guler remains under contract until 2029, so there is no pressing need to cash-in, and he has been a key player for Xabi Alonso this season.

Fewer touches than Lammens & 100% duels lost: Man Utd flop must be dropped

Manchester United’s draw against West Ham United yesterday once again highlighted the struggles faced by the side during Ruben Amorim’s tenure at Old Trafford.

Diogo Dalot’s strike looked as though the Red Devils would secure all three points for the second time in a week, but their inability to defend set pieces ultimately cost them all three points.

Soungoutou Magassa’s effort was enough to secure the visitors a point, with Amorim left frustrated by his side’s lack of killer instinct to put the game to bed in the second half.

The result leaves United in eighth place in the Premier League, just two points off fourth, but the season could already look a whole lot different had the side managed to once again hold on for the win.

Numerous players failed to deliver during the meeting at Old Trafford, which could see the manager make some needed changes ahead of their next outing over the weekend.

United’s poor performers against West Ham last night

During the draw against Nuno Espírito Santo’s side, Luke Shaw was once again handed a start in the Premier League, now taking his run of starts to 14 in a row.

However, it was yet another performance to forget for the Englishman, with the centre-back struggling to deal with the threat posed by opposition forward Jarrod Bowen.

Shaw was dribbled past twice, lost 75% of the ground duels he entered, whilst also committing three fouls – showcasing his inability to stop his compatriot from impressing.

At the other end of the pitch, Bryan Mbeumo also struggled to continue his fine recent form in the Premier League, as the Cameroonian once again failed to find the back of the net.

Like Shaw, he struggled in his duels against the Hammers at Old Trafford, as seen by his measly tally of 100% aerials lost out of the five battles in which he entered.

He also failed to complete any of the crosses he attempted, whilst only placing one of his shots on target, subsequently being unable to provide the added threat needed in attacking areas.

The Man Utd star who needs to be dropped after West Ham

After failing to win for an eighth time in the league this campaign, Amorim will certainly need to find a winning formula quickly if he is to be a success as United manager.

He’s massively come under fire over recent months for his lack of success in the role, no doubt down to his reluctance to move away from his 3-4-2-1 system in key moments.

At 1-1 last night, he had the opportunity to bring Kobbie Mainoo onto the pitch in an attempt to secure victory, but it was his conservative substitutions which led to the draw.

The 40-year-old simply laughed in his post-match interview when one journalist suggested that the Englishman should have been brought on to push for the win.

Such a move wasn’t the only questionable decision made by Amorim last night, with the manager deciding to utilise Ayden Heaven at centre-back alongside Shaw and Noussair Mazraoui.

The youngster was handed his first league start of the campaign, but it was a decision that massively backfired, given his struggles at the Theatre of Dreams last night.

He featured for 45 minutes during the contest, before being replaced at the break after picking up a yellow card for a rash tackle on Bowen during the closing stages of the half.

The 19-year-old lost 100% of the duels he entered, whether that being on the ground or in the air, whilst committing two separate fouls, which no doubt led to his booking.

Heaven was also only able to complete a measly tally of six passes out of a possible ten, with none of his long balls being completed – showcasing his struggles in possession.

His struggles were compounded by his lack of involvement during the first half, only achieving a tally of 17 touches of the ball – with goalkeeper Senne Lammens having more, as seen by his tally of 29.

Senne Lammens – stats against West Ham

Statistics

Tally

Minutes played

90

Touches

29

Goals prevented

0.06

Passes completed

23

Pass accuracy

79%

Saves

1

High claims

1

Recoveries made

8

Stats via FotMob

After such a performance, the manager must surely look to more senior options to fill the void, when his Red Devils side face Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday night.

Leny Yoro was brought on to replace the Englishman at the break, with the manager needing to select the Frenchman next time around to help the side return to winning ways.

18x ball lost: Amorim must ruthlessly bench overhyped 5/10 Man Utd man

This Man Utd ace struggled in their 1-1 draw at home to West Ham

By
Joe Nuttall

Dec 5, 2025

تشكيل مانشستر سيتي المتوقع أمام فولهام اليوم في الدوري الإنجليزي

يحل فريق مانشستر سيتي ضيفًا على خصمه فريق فولهام، في مباراتهما مساء يوم الثلاثاء، وذلك في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، موسم 2025/26.

تأتي تلك المباراة في خضم منافسات الجولة الرابعة عشر من بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي لكرة القدم، لهذا الموسم، على ملعب “كرافن كوتيج”.

ويحتل مانشستر سيتي المركز الثاني في جدول الدوري الإنجليزي في الوقت الحالي، برصيد 25 نقطة، بينما يحتل فولهام المركز الخامس عشر برصيد 17 نقطة.

ويأمل النجم المصري عمر مرموش المشاركة أساسيًا في مباراة اليوم رفقة كتيبة بيب جوارديولا، بعدما دخل كبديل في الدقيقة 89 من مباراة الجولة الماضية ضد ليدز يونايتد، والتي حقق فيها مانشستر سيتي فوزًا قاتلًا بنتيجة 3/2. تشكيل مانشستر سيتي المتوقع أمام فولهام اليوم في الدوري الإنجليزي

حراسة المرمى: جيانلويجي دوناروما.

خط الدفاع: ماتيوس نونيز، جفارديول، روبن دياز، نيكو أوريلي.

خط الوسط: برناردو سيلفا، نيكو جونزاليس.

خط الوسط الهجومي: ريان شرقي، جيريمي دوكو، إيرلينج هالاند.

خط الهجوم: فيل فودين.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنـــا

Amorim can fix Man Utd's midfield by axing Casemiro for "future £100m" star

Manchester United’s midfield pivot has been something that Ruben Amorim has seemingly found a formula he likes. The Portuguese manager has caused lots of debate with his infamous 3-4-2-1, with the wing-backs being one thing to spark such conversation.

However, the makeup of his pivot has been interesting to see, too. This season, it seems as though the former Sporting boss has landed on captain Bruno Fernandes and the experienced Casemiro as his ideal duo in midfield.

It is a new role for Fernandes, who has played most of his career as a number ten.

As for Casemiro, he has done well this season. Yet, against Crystal Palace at the weekend, he looked exposed at times.

Why Casemiro can struggle in the pivot

Brazil legend Casemiro has certainly adapted well to playing in Amorim’s system.

Not too long ago, he was told to “leave the football before the football leaves you” by Jamie Carragher. Now, he is a regular starter for United at almost 34 years of age.

Indeed, Amorim has put a lot of trust in the former Real Madrid star this season. He’s played in 12 Premier League games, missing one due to a suspension.

Since the middle of September, he’s started every game in the league he’s been available for, and has even scored three times.

However, there are struggles that the United number 18 can experience in midfield.

Physically, Casemiro is a little behind the eight ball at times and can get exposed, often being left in the dust and opposition midfielders coasting past him.

Coming up against the Eagles last Sunday, it was an issue in the first half for the 82-cap Brazil international. As Goal journalist Calum Preston Kelly pointed out, he “struggled to prevent Palace dictating play in the first half.”

The energetic duo of Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada found it all too easy and were able to breeze past him countless times, having looked “haunted” up against the Englishman, in particular.

Perhaps this is an issue Amorim would like to nip in the bud before long. It might well make a change of personnel in the pivot to have a true impact.

United’s ready-made Casemiro alternative

There are options if Amorim wants to switch things up in midfield.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Mason Mount briefly played next to Bruno Fernandes away to Fulham at the start of the season, and Manuel Ugarte is another player who could slot into the side.

Yet, the obvious answer is Kobbie Mainoo. Amorim continues to ignore his obvious talent, despite being called a “future £100m+ footballer” by Alex Turk and starting in the final of Euro 2024 just 18 months ago.

It has been a tough campaign for the Stockport-born midfielder. He’s only played nine times in the Premier League, and is yet to start a game.

He’s featured for just 171 minutes, averaging 20 per game that he has played in.

Let’s not forget, though, the skill Mainoo possesses. He is a master in small spaces, able to break the press with his carrying ability and drive forward.

He’s also intelligent off the ball and is a strong dueller. Those were all on show on his Premier League debut against Everton, where he had 61 touches and won five duels.

Mainoo vs Everton – PL debut

Stat

Number

Touches

61

Pass accuracy

83%

Passes completed

38/46

Ground duels won

3/5

Aerial duels won

2/3

Ball recoveries

3

Dribbles completed

2/3

Stats from Sofascore

The skills Mainoo could bring to United’s pivot would surely only benefit Amorim’s side. He is more physically up to speed than Casemiro and is less likely to get outrun.

On top of that, he brings different qualities on the ball which could add a new dynamic to midfield.

Plus, he still has an eye for goal like his fellow midfielder.

Mainoo has seven goals in a United shirt, with the most important one coming in the 2023/24 FA Cup final, which turned out to be the winner against Manchester City.

Mainoo has to get his chance in the United midfield soon enough. Their number 37 simply must be playing football every week, to continue on the path he was on just one year ago.

Don’t forget, he was trusted to start England’s biggest game in years.

With Casemiro’s occasional struggles out of possession, the starlet could be the Red Devils’ answer to their issues in midfield.

Bruno upgrade: Man Utd make £70m bid for "most complete player in football"

Manchester United could acquire a perfect upgrade in the midfield department in 2026…

ByRobbie Walls Dec 3, 2025

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