Lineker tells Mainoo to sue Amorim over lost year

Former England striker Gary Lineker has gone a step further in his criticism of ex-Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, explicitly saying Kobbie Mainoo should consider suing the Portuguese coach for stalling his career.

Mainoo, 20, endured a frustrating first half of the 2025-26 season under Amorim, failing to make a single Premier League start and slipping down the pecking order at Old Trafford.

His lack of minutes fuelled January transfer speculation, with Napoli among the clubs linked, before Amorim was sacked on January 5.

Since Michael Carrick’s appointment as interim manager, Mainoo has been restored to the starting XI and has featured in four straight wins over Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham, reasserting his importance to the side.

Lineker: “He’s taken a year out of his career”

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker said Mainoo had every reason to feel aggrieved about how his season was handled under Amorim.

“If I was Kobbie Mainoo, and I say this in jest, I’d be thinking about whether I should sue him or not,” Lineker said. “He’s taken a year out of that kid’s career. This kid is a wonderful footballer.”

Lineker praised Mainoo’s composure and intelligence on the ball, adding that his absence from regular action was damaging at a crucial stage of development.

“He wants the ball, he receives it under pressure, he turns, always makes the right decisions,” he said. “He’s been absolutely detrimental to his career.”

The former England captain also suggested Mainoo could force his way back into World Cup contention if he continues playing regularly.

Carrick urges patience despite revival

Carrick, however, has urged caution despite Mainoo’s strong return, stressing that development must be managed carefully.

“There’s definitely more to come from him,” Carrick said. “He’s still so young and learning the game. Managing that is really important.”

Carrick highlighted the value of Mainoo playing alongside Casemiro and gaining experience in high-pressure matches, warning against placing excessive expectations on the midfielder too quickly.

United now head to West Ham seeking a fifth consecutive win, with Mainoo once again central to Carrick’s plans as the club pushes to secure a Champions League place.