England Legend Jokes Kobbie Mainoo Should Sue Former Man United Boss Ruben Amorim

England legend Gary Lineker has quipped that Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo ought to take legal action against former manager Ruben Amorim for nearly derailing his promising career.

Mainoo has flourished since Amorim's departure in December, which ended a challenging 14-month tenure for the Portuguese coach.

Ruben Amorim struggled to integrate the young midfielder into his controversial 3-4-3 formation, often leaving Kobbie Mainoo on the sidelines.

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The situation deteriorated at the start of the current season, prompting Kobbie Mainoo to request a loan move at the end of the summer transfer window, which the club denied.

With playing time still scarce, the player was reportedly considering his future ahead of the January transfer window.

Under Ruben Amorim, Mainoo never started a Premier League match, with his only start coming in a humiliating League Cup defeat to Grimsby Town.

However, the arrival of Michael Carrick has marked a significant turning point. Mainoo has started the last four matches, playing a pivotal role in United's recent run of victories. His standout performance against Tottenham included a brilliant assist for Bryan Mbeumo's opening goal.

Fellow pundit Ian Wright suggested Mainoo's form had "embarrassed" Amorim, a view Lineker shared on "The Rest Is Football" podcast, where he jokingly proposed the Carrington academy graduate should consider suing his former boss.

"You know what? If I were Kobbie Mainoo, and I'm kidding, I'd be thinking about whether I should sue [Amorim] or not," Lineker said.

"He's taken a year off this guy's career. This guy is a great player. He makes it look so easy. He looks for the ball, he takes it with everyone around him and comes back, he always makes the right decisions, he's classy."

"Come on now! It's been absolutely detrimental to his career," he added.

Lineker also endorsed Mainoo for a spot in England's 2026 World Cup squad. "If he doesn't make the list... and I think he's very likely to if he stays healthy and keeps playing, because he's an extremely good footballer," Lineker stated.

Referencing a "Free Kobbie" t-shirt worn by the player's brother, Lineker continued, "I know his brother got into a bit of trouble for the 'Free Kobbie' shirt, but he's got a lot of right. What was he [Amorim] thinking?!"

"I say this (to sue Amorim) in jest, of course, but it's very strange that he didn't see how good this young man is," Lineker concluded.

"I thought: 'Has something happened? Has he become arrogant?' But he's back and he's exactly who he was before, who, if you think about it, was probably England's best player at the European Championship."

Kobbie Mainoo and Manchester United are set to return to action on Tuesday with an away fixture against West Ham.