Ben Foster now thinks that there could be one major factor behind England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo feeling like he has been undervalued at Manchester United.
The 42-year-old former Manchester United and England shot-stopper admitted that Kobbie Mainoo has been a “really interesting talking point” in the current campaign.
Mainoo has tumbled down the United pecking order after Ruben Amorim has been playing Red Devils skipper Bruno Fernandes in the two-man midfield pivot.
The 20-year-old Stockport-born talent has not made a single Premier League start in the 2025-26 season and has been limited to sporadic cameo appearances instead.
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Ben Foster has admitted that he is deeply critical of Ruben Amorim’s comments around Mainoo and the United youth academy talent in recent weeks.
Speaking on his podcast, he said: “This is a really interesting talking point […], okay, because Kobbie Mainoo, what’s happening with him? Why is he not playing? There’s been so much media press coverage about him.
“Amorim said something last week as well. And then some of the young lads at the club went and put out an Instagram post out and I’m just thinking, I’m watching it thinking, ‘What on earth?’
“How have Man United got to this state here, this place where young lads feel like, ‘Oh, do you know what? Has he said that about me? I’ll put this Instagram picture out.’
“Honestly, like honestly, it’s an absolute disgrace. It really is.”
Ben Foster singles out one issue that Man Utd midfielder Kobbie Mainoo is currently facing at Old Trafford
Kobbie Mainoo has been linked with an exit from Manchester United in January, having reportedly asked the club to leave Old Trafford back in the summer.
Napoli have been linked with Mainoo and the Red Devils midfielder is keen to secure regular first-team minutes amid fears of missing out on the 2026 World Cup.
Mainoo is under contract with United until 2027 and the England international is reportedly earning only £25,000 per week on his existing deal at the club.
What do you think of Kobbie Mainoo’s brother wearing a ‘Free Kobbie Mainoo’ t-shirt at Old Trafford?
This is NOT going to help Kobbie Mainoo!
Ben Foster believes that the Three Lions ace might feel that he is being underpaid on his current deal after the signings of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.
“But like you say, they’re trying to draw a line in the sand, but then they signed Cunha on a couple of hundred [thousand pounds], 150 [thousand] and Mbeumo on the same amount of money,” he said on the Fozcast podcast.
“So, I understand that he [Mainoo] would be rightfully annoyed at not being looked after like that.
“I understand United’s stance as well, but then they go and give the other players contracts anyway. But we don’t get to see behind the scenes.”
Ben Foster’s honest verdict on the Man Utd situation involving Kobbie Mainoo and Ruben Amorim
Foster hailed the “unbelievable” ability that Mainoo has as a player, but the footballer-turned-pundit said that things could be different behind closed doors at the club.
“You don’t know what he’s [Mainoo] like behind the scenes,” he continued.
“There has to be a reason why he’s not involved, right? The manager sees it.
So, if I don’t know what his attitude is like, I don’t know what he’s putting in training, is he really working hard enough to get into that team?
“Because if you’ve got a player with his ability, because he is an unbelievable player, and he’s working hard as well, then he should be involved, he should, but we don’t know.”
Mainoo has made 12 appearances across all competitions for the Red Devils this season, but he missed United’s recent 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa due to injury.
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