Ten Hag sold him for £9m: Man Utd had the original Mainoo who Bruno loved

In what was a year to forget for Manchester United football club, captain Bruno Fernandes endured a season to remember on a personal level - producing numerous moments of magic despite the team’s failures.

The Portuguese international racked up a total of 37 combined goals and assists across all competitions - by far and away the highest tally of any member of the first-team squad.

However, he was unable to catapult Ruben Amorim’s side to any form of success, as the Red Devils ended the 2024/25 Premier League campaign in a measly 15th place.

The first team desperately needed reinforcements over the summer, something which the board provided with the likes of Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo.

Despite the additions in forward areas, a new midfielder was desperately needed, subsequently adding further quality to the side - but also pushing another talent down the pecking order.

Kobbie Mainoo’s future at Manchester United

During the 2023/24 campaign, academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo was a breath of fresh air to the United side - popping up in key moments during his breakthrough campaign at Old Trafford.

The 20-year-old scored multiple times that year, including a last-minute winner against Wolves - before netting the crucial effort in the FA Cup final triumph against rivals Manchester City.

However, in recent times, the Englishman has struggled for consistent action, starting just 19 times last season, with minutes even harder to come by this campaign.

Mainoo hasn’t started a single league game in 2025/26, with his only starting outing coming in the embarrassing Carabao Cup second round defeat to Grimsby Town.

He’s spoken about wanting to leave his boyhood club on loan in recent times to gain valuable game time elsewhere - but his request was denied, subsequently needing to fight for his place in the side.

Such a situation has been a disappointing one for both the player and the club, with a resolution needed, but they may have made a mistake in allowing one former youngster to depart.

The former United star who was the original Mainoo

United’s hunt for a new midfielder was evident during the summer transfer window, targeting numerous talents throughout Europe to offer further quality in the middle of the park.

Bruno, who’s primarily an attacking midfielder, has been forced to operate in a deeper role this campaign - especially after the arrivals of Cunha and Mbeumo in the number ten positions.

Hopefully, such a decision doesn’t take away from the numbers he produced last season, already getting off the mark with his last-minute penalty against Burnley last weekend.

However, a new partner alongside him has been desperately needed in recent times, potentially making a mistake in allowing former youngster James Garner to depart the club.

The Portuguese international has previously praised the Englishman, labelling him a “good player” after the Red Devils’ pre-season tour back in 2021.

He rose through the youth levels at Old Trafford, just like Mainoo, but would only make seven first-team appearances - with his spells away from the club catapulting him to stardom.

Garner would spend 18 months on loan at Nottingham Forest, catching the eye with his box-to-box displays, registering eight goals and 10 assists over his two separate loan spells at the City Ground.

He subsequently helped the Reds secure promotion back to the Premier League in 2022, in a spell that would catch the eye of a side already plying their trade in England’s top-flight.

The 24-year-old joined Everton on a permanent basis for an initial £9m in the summer of 2022, with Erik ten Hag not seeing the player in his plans - with the Toffees getting themselves a bargain given his form on Merseyside over the last couple of seasons.

Garner has since made 88 appearances for the Toffees, showcasing his versatility, operating in the middle of the park, as well as right-back, but still thriving despite the unnatural role.

He scored his first goal of the new season in recent weeks, with his beautiful strike from outside the box securing the Toffees a victory in their first outing at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The £9m fee now appears to be way too cheap, given his recent success away from Old Trafford, potentially being able to cement his place in Amorim’s side had he stayed at the club.

There’s no denying he was the original Mainoo, rising through the club’s youth levels, but ultimately, their loss is Everton’s gain - with Bruno missing out on starring alongside the Englishman.

Click here to read article