Manchester United’s academy – moving away from tradition under Ruben Amorim? | OneFootball

Manchester United have always been known for their renowned academy, but under Ruben Amorim, is it being underserved?

The likes of Toby Collyer, Harry Amass, Chido Obi and Tyler Fredricson all have made their first team debuts for United after coming through the academy. Collyer in the Community Shield under previous manager Erik ten Hag, then the trio of Obi, Amass and Fredricson under Amorim.

As of March 2025, only Tottenham had played teenagers for longer than Manchester United (2,129), but already established academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo and big money signing Leny Yoro were responsible for most of those. Obi joined last summer from Arsenal, as did fellow youngster Ayden Heaven, who joined in January 2025 from the Gunners.

Collyer has since left Old Trafford to join Championship side West Bromwich Albion on loan, whilst Mainoo and the other four youngsters have yet to feature for United this season, failing to come off the bench in the first two Premier League games of the 2025-26 campaign.

Mainoo is now being linked with a move away from United, with this season being the first since records began that the Red Devils have failed to give a single minute to an academy product in the opening two league matches, spanning pre-war times. Last season it was a combined 409 minutes from the first two league games. This unwanted record only betters the seasons of 15-16 and 16-17, with academy products only contributing 60 and 90 minutes.

The 20-year-old is set to play against League Two side Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup, with Amorim saying Mainoo is fighting for a spot in the team with captain Bruno Fernandes.

“He’s fighting for the position now with Bruno and I change two midfielders. I let Mason Mount [play] there because we want to score a goal and when I changed I felt the team need to return to one holding midfielder near Bruno.

“So he (Mainoo) just needs to fight for the position with Bruno, as it should be at Manchester United. Sometimes he’s going to play with Bruno, but at the moment he’s fighting in training with Bruno for the position.”

Previous academy graduates Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho have been exiled from the squad with Rashford being sent on loan to Spanish Champions Barcelona. Garnacho is part of the United ‘Bomb Squad’ and is training away from the first-team, with links to a move to Chelsea a constant on daily transfer reports.

Throwing money at problems seems to have been United’s strategy since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement 12-years-ago, but at least the identity of bringing through one of their own has always been laid bare. Under Amorim, it appears that identity is evaporating, as the pressure mounts on the Portuguese head coach, and it is not going down well with the Old Trafford faithful.

If this strategy works then Amorim might win over his doubters, if it does not, then the 40-year-old might be in serious trouble.