Alejandro Garnacho has shown solidarity with his former team-mate Kobbie Mainoo by liking a social media post in which Manchester United legend Paul Scholes criticised the club’s handling of the young player. The Argentine’s gesture comes as Mainoo, an England international, continues to be sidelined by head coach Ruben Amorim. Scholes, a United stalwart, slammed the treatment of the academy product especially in light of recent transfer activities that have seen Scott McTominay flourish at Napoli.
In a strongly-worded social media post, Scholes accused Amorim of ‘ruining’ the midfielder’s career. He stated: “Bulls***. The kid is being ruined, not being played in a team that can’t control a game of football! Hate seeing home grown players leave but it’s probably best for him now, enough is enough.”
The post was shared by Scholes on his Instagram account and was amplified by a United fan account shortly afterwards. It caught the attention of Garnacho who ‘liked’ it.
Despite his move to Chelsea over the summer, the winger clearly still feels a sense of camaraderie with his former team-mate.
Amorim, meanwhile, has had to justify his approach towards United’s academy products, none of whom have started a Premier League match this season.
“I just want to win,” he said. “I don’t look (at) who it is, I don’t care about that, I’m just trying to put the best players on the pitch. Of course I understand, and my job is to answer.
“But you always ask me the same thing. I understand what you are saying. You love Kobbie. He starts for England.
“But that doesn’t mean that I need to put Kobbie [in] when I feel that I shouldn’t put Kobbie [in]. It’s my decision.”
Mainoo has clocked up just 261 minutes for his boyhood club, with his sole start coming in the Carabao Cup clash against Grimsby Town.
Reports suggest the midfielder is considering a loan move away from United in the January transfer window, having grown frustrated with his limited first-team opportunities.
Mainoo asked to depart Old Trafford in the summer but saw his request denied, with the Red Devils opting to keep him around.
They are expected to hold off on any decisions until after the Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off this month and concludes with the final on January 17.
Currently, United stand to lose three players – Amad, Bryan Mbeumo and Noussair Mazraoui – with the tournament in Morocco’s deadline set for December 15.