Kobbie Mainoo has revealed just how close he came to leaving Manchester United during a turbulent period under Ruben Amorim. The 21-year-old midfielder, who shot to fame after scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup final against Manchester City, suddenly found himself on the sidelines and contemplating an exit from Old Trafford.

Amorim's preferred 3-4-2-1 system left little room for Mainoo, who failed to start a single Premier League match under the Portuguese coach. As frustration mounted, rumors swirled about the youngster's future—especially after the club turned down his request for a loan move. For many players, that would have been the final straw, but Mainoo insists his heart never truly left United.

"When there's new managers, they have their way that they want to play, and if they think you don't fit that, then you don't fit that," Mainoo told Sky Sports. "All I can do is try and work and train to maybe see it in a different light."

Amorim maintained that he rated Mainoo highly but believed the midfielder was best suited to the same advanced role occupied by captain Bruno Fernandes. With Fernandes considered untouchable, Mainoo was often left watching from the sidelines. During that difficult stretch, the young star leaned on teammates like Casemiro, Joshua Zirkzee, and even Fernandes himself for support.

"Going from playing nearly every game to not playing as often is always going to be a difficult adjustment," Mainoo admitted. "It was good for me in terms of learning about myself, the game, and patience. How to schedule my life, and how I train."

For fans who've followed Mainoo's meteoric rise, this moment of vulnerability is a reminder that even the brightest young talents face setbacks. But his determination to fight for his place at the club he's supported since childhood shows the kind of character that defines a true Red.