Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has expressed his desire to keep hold of talented youngsters Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnach despite rumors the duo could be sold to ease the club’s financial pressure.
United are 13th in the Premier League and have won just four of Amorim’s 12 games so far.
The ability of the club to hand over to the former coach of Sporting Lisbon, who took office in Novembersignificant funding for renewal in the transmission market is limited by profit and sustainability rules.
United lost $139 million in the financial year ending June 2024 – its fifth straight year in the red.
As graduates of the academy, any fee received for Mainoo or Garnacho would be shown on the books as 100 percent profit.
Reports this week suggest that United are therefore open to offers for the two, as well as a number of other recent signings such as Leny Yoro, Manuel Ugarte and Matthijs de Ligt.
“I really love my players. I want to keep my players, especially the talented ones,” Amorim said in his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup trip against Arsenal.
“This is a special moment in this club, it’s a difficult moment, but of course I’m very happy with Kobbie, he’s progressing, and also with Garn.”
Amorim has previously admitted that United’s recruitment needs to improve and stressed the need to improve the club’s academy to save money in the transfer market.
“When we target players, we have to make sure they can handle the demands,” he added.
“I also said that we have to improve our academy, bring in young kids who fill the club in the right way, and also with these rules we can do business and have some money to invest in the team.
“Our idea is always to keep the best players and the players we are building for this club.
“We know what position the club is in at the moment, but we will see. I’m very happy, I like our players, especially the guys from our academy.”
Another graduate of United’s academy – Marcus Rashford – it seems he is leaving Old Trafford this month.
The 27-year-old has reportedly held talks with AC Milan this week, with other European clubs also interested, including Borussia Dortmund.
Rashford has not featured in United’s last six games and Amorim refused to be drawn on whether he could return to the Emirates.
The Portuguese coach has confirmed fellow goalkeeper Altay Bayindir will start ahead of Andre Onana despite his mistakes in last month’s 4-3 League Cup quarter-final defeat at Tottenham.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, says he has been impressed with the impact new manager Ruben Amorim has had on United, and expects it to be a fine game when the two sides meet in the third round of the cup.
Arsenal suffered Amorim’s first defeat as United manager in a 2-0 win in the Premier League last month. But United, 13th in the league, showed sparks of potential with a 2-1 win against Manchester City and last weekend 2-2 draw at the leading Liverpool.
“Look at how they play against the big teams… and the results they have achieved,” Arteta told reporters on Friday.
“I think every manager, when he is appointed, is there for a reason. The reasons can be different. Sometimes it’s just to improve the football team… sometimes it’s to transform the football club. It’s a completely different dimension of work.”
FA Cup holders United, however, had lost four games in a row before Sunday’s draw and failed to keep a clean sheet in their last nine games, while Arsenal scored 13 goals in five games before Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat by Newcastle United in the League Cup.
Arteta said it was understandable that Amorim would take some time to get the best out of United.
“It’s difficult because, obviously, you need time to implement your ideas, especially your way of playing and explaining it. And when you have so many games, it’s difficult,” he said.
Arteta, however, said United had changed as a team since the two sides last clashed more than five weeks ago.
“I expect a few different things,” he added.
“It’s a nice game to play against a huge club and they will bring a lot of fans. Remembering to win something and sharing it with people is the ultimate goal.”
