Two of Manchester United's promising young talents have found themselves at the centre of a public spat with first-team manager Ruben Amorim, following critical comments from the Portuguese coach.
Amorim's Public Critique Sparks Tension
The situation unfolded after Ruben Amorim was questioned about his limited use of academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo. In his response, the manager appeared to downplay the readiness of other young players at the club. Amorim specifically named teenagers Harry Amass and Chido Obi, suggesting they were not performing at the required standard.
"I don't know what is going to be the future (for Mainoo). Let's see after this match," Amorim stated. He then pointed to the duo, saying, "Amass is now struggling in the Championship. Chido (Obi) is not always a starter in Under-21s." The coach added that these players got opportunities earlier in the season when there was significant pressure on his position.
Cryptic Social Media Replies from the Youngsters
The players, clearly stung by the public assessment, did not take long to respond, albeit in a subtle manner. Harry Amass shared a now-deleted post on his social media featuring a photo of him winning the club's November Player of the Month award, accompanied by a simple smiley face emoji. According to reports, the post was live for only about five minutes before being taken down.
Sources close to the player indicate that Amass's camp were far from pleased with the manager's remarks. Chido Obi, who is currently injured, followed a similar path. The 18-year-old striker posted a picture of himself celebrating a goal for United's Under-21s. This post was also deleted minutes after publication. Notably, Obi has since removed all mentions of Manchester United from his social media biography, a move often interpreted as a sign of discontent.
Context Behind the Youngsters' Seasons
The criticism comes despite both players having made first-team debuts under Amorim in the 2024-25 campaign. Amass managed four Premier League starts from a total of seven appearances, while Obi made eight appearances, with seven of those coming from the substitutes' bench.
Furthermore, the context around Obi's playing time with the Under-21s provides more nuance. The young striker is actually the joint-top scorer for the U21s this season with five goals. His rotation with fellow prospect Gabriele Biancheri, who also has five goals, is a tactical decision by coach Travis Binnion to ensure both players get fair opportunities in the number nine role, rather than a reflection of poor form.
This incident highlights the delicate balance managers must strike when discussing young players publicly and raises questions about the communication within the club's hierarchy at Old Trafford.
