MU blocked Mainoo and Zirkzee from leaving the team this winter
Worried about a shortage of personnel during Christmas and early 2026 when Bryan Mbeumo, Amad and Mazraoui are busy serving the national team at the African Cup of Nations, MU is expected to reject the departure requests of Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee.
MU is expected to reject all offers to leave the team of Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee in the winter transfer window, the decision was made in the context of the club being at risk of serious shortage of force during Christmas and early 2026, when Bryan Mbeumo, Amad and Noussair Mazraoui are busy focusing on the national team for the African Cup of Nations.
Context: Christmas staffing problems
Since the start of the season, Mainoo and Zirkzee have had limited playing time, but they could become important rotation players when the busy schedule comes in. According to the personnel plan, MU is likely to be without three important names on the right wing including Bryan Mbeumo, Amad and Noussair Mazraoui due to national team duty during the African Cup of Nations. This means that coach Amorim faces the risk of lacking depth on the right wing and attack.
In that situation, the coaching staff determined not to let any players leave in the winter, prioritizing stabilizing the force to avoid personnel disruption.
Kobbie Mainoo: a rotating fulcrum in midfield
Mainoo has not started a Premier League game since May. His only start this season was the defeat to Grimsby in the second round of the EFL Cup. Despite receiving a loan offer before the summer window closed, United rejected it, preferring to keep the 21-year-old as a fourth-choice midfielder as a reserve for the rest of the year.
From a tactical perspective, keeping Mainoo allows Amorim to maintain continuity in their pressing and passing structure when the fixtures are tight. A young midfielder with a strong physical foundation and positional discipline, helps the team maintain distance and speed in passing the ball when rotating key players.
Joshua Zirkzee: playmaker in Amorim's system
Zirkzee has only accumulated 90 minutes in five substitute appearances this season. Half a year ago, he suffered a hamstring injury and missed the entire pre-season. With the arrival of Mbeumo, Cunha and Sesko, the former Bologna striker's playing space has been further reduced.
Coach Amorim does not see Zirkzee as a true centre-forward, instead often using him as an attacking midfielder. This role emphasizes his ability to link up, create walls and stretch the opposition defence. In periods of shortage of personnel on the right wing, an attacking midfielder can be key to connecting the midfield with the attack, creating a triangle of coordination and opening up overlapping corridors for the full-backs.
Zirkzee himself is disappointed with his lack of playing time and considered returning to Serie A in the winter. However, according to the current direction, MU has not changed its stance on keeping the player.
Why MU "locked the door" in winter
- There is a risk of a shortage of force on the right wing when Mbeumo, Amad and Mazraoui are absent during the African Cup of Nations.
- The fixture list is packed over Christmas and early 2026, requiring deep rotation.
- Mainoo and Zirkzee provide different specialist options for Amorim: a structural midfielder and a linking playmaker.
Notable numbers
| Index | Value |
|---|---|
| Mainoo has been a Premier League starter since May | 0 |
| Mainoo starts this season (League Cup, vs Grimsby) | 1 match |
| Mainoo's position in central midfield | Option 4 |
| Zirkzee number of appearances from the bench | 5 |
| Zirkzee total playing time | 90 minutes |
| Zirkzee's hamstring injury | Half a year ago |
Short-term impact
Keeping Mainoo and Zirkzee helps MU have more personnel and tactical options in the sensitive period of the season. The decision to block the exit in the winter transfer window is a precautionary step, preserving the squad depth so as not to be passive in the face of changes in force due to national team obligations and a dense match schedule.
