Kobbie Mainoo tells Man Utd he wants to join Napoli permanently - but club won't let him

Kobbie Mainoo is at the centre of a bizarre £50million tug of war between Italian champions Napoli and Manchester United.

The Italian champions - who are now targeting the Champions League - have a four-year contract waiting for the 20-year-old midfielder. And Mainoo has told United bosses he wants to go to Serie A - on a permanent deal.

United, mindful of the stunning impact made by another of their rejects, Scott McTominay, have so far blocked the move.

But Mainoo is adamant that he wants to leave before Monday's transfer deadline.

Midfielder McTominay was allowed to leave Old Trafford last summer for Antonio Conte ’s Napoli in a £25million switch.

He has since left produced a string of game-changing performances domestically and in Europe to become the first Scot to be shortlisted for the Ballon d’Or since former Rangers striker Ally McCoist in 1987. McTominay was also named last season’s MVP award - in his debut season at Napoli.

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Under Conte, McTominay - much derided and eventually sidelined at Old Trafford - was instrumental in the club’s title success.

The 28-year-old scored 12 times in 34 league appearances and provided a crucial goal on the final day of the season to secure the Scudetto.

Mainoo believes Conte could have a similar effect on his own footballing future and, as a result, wants to leave on a permanent basis rather than on loan as had been previously believed.

Conte believes his quick feet, impressive passing range and speed in tight spaces will help his side as Napoli defend their title and target the Champions League.

Still highly rated by many United fans, the England midfielder’s club contract runs until 2027 but negotiations over an extension have stalled.

It is also understood United would be willing to listen to offers for him as his regular first-team opportunities have stalled under Ruben Amorim.

Mainoo played the full 90 minutes in Wednesday's EFL Cup penalty shootout defeat at Grimsby.

Before that, however, he was an unused substitute for United's opening two Premier League games with Amorim insistent he is fighting for a place with skipper Bruno Fernandes.

Stockport-born Mainoo has had an unhappy 12 months at Old Trafford since his fabulous end to the 2023-24 campaign which saw him play at the European Championships with England.

His confidence and form dipped, and he was injured when Erik ten Hag was sacked and Amorim took his place.

As the players struggled with the Portuguese head coach’s system of three at the back, Mainoo was involved in a string of damaging defeats.

Injury struck again in February and, by the time he returned, Amorim’s focus on the Europa League limited his chances.

McTominay, however, is not the only player to have left United and since flourished. Antony was outstanding at Betis and Marcus Rashford helped Aston Villa to the brink of the Champions League semi-finals, earning himself a move to Barcelona.

Chelsea have seen enough in winger Alejandro Garnacho to invest £40million. Now Napoli are determined to take their push for Mainoo to Monday’s transfer deadline wire.

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