Kobbie Mainoo ‘Very Tempted’ By Napoli As Romano Reveals Manchester United Position
There's a stumbling block in Napoli's way.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Updated on 12 December 2025
Fabrizio Romano has lifted the lid on the latest news involving Napoli target Kobbie Mainoo and parent club Manchester United.
Kobbie Mainoo ‘genuinely intrigued’ by Napoli
Napoli’s interest in Mainoo goes back to last summer. The Partenopei made multiple attempts to bring the Manchester United midfielder to Italy.
Juventus were keen on Mainoo too, but the Bianconeri have since cooled their interest in the England international.
The 20-year-old has struggled for game time at Manchester United this year, which has led to intensifying speculation.
Mainoo only has 273 minutes of competitive football this term, and he is yet to start in the Premier League.
In theory, this could bring Mainoo and Napoli together. And Romano has reiterated that the two are keen on one another.
“Mainoo is very tempted by Napoli,” he said on his Italian-language YouTube channel. “He is genuinely intrigued by that possibility.”
However, there is one particular issue that will arise later in December.
Manchester United reluctant to let Mainoo leave during Africa Cup of Nations
The Africa Cup of Nations starts on December 21 and is scheduled to run until January 18, 2026.
Three Man United players – Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui – are set to play at the tournament.
With that in mind, the club are reluctant to deplete their ranks even further in January, according to Romano.
“With several players set to go to the Africa Cup of Nations, United aren’t keen to let important squad rotation players leave at the start of January,” Romano said.
“This applies to Zirkzee as well as Mainoo.
“The expectation is that United may reassess later in the window, but early on, with AFCON absences, they don’t really want to lose these pieces.
“That’s also in line with Amorim, who wouldn’t want to lose these players – at least not immediately.
“We’ll have to see how the timing works out and how the Mainoo situation – and potentially Zirkzee’s – develops, because right now everything depends on United.
“Until there’s that ‘green light’, Mainoo can stay on the list – the appreciation is there – but then it becomes a question of what Napoli decide to do.”
Why Mainoo could flourish under Conte
Napoli currently have Billy Gilmour, Stanislav Lobotka, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Kevin De Bruyne sidelined due to injuries.
As a result, there is a pressing need for reinforcements, and Mainoo would certainly fit the bill.
Napoli’s system has shown a willingness to adapt to the strengths of key individuals in midfield and attack.
Conte’s setup can amplify exactly what Mainoo does best: receiving the ball under pressure, carrying it through midfield, and breaking lines with quick touches and timing.
In addition, Serie A isn’t a league where every team presses high up the pitch like in the English Premier League.
This can give a technical midfielder more time to dictate from deeper zones.
With that in mind, Mainoo could rebuild rhythm, confidence and consistency in Italy, even if he is deployed in a deeper position.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte is a sports journalist with over a decade of professional experience in the industry. His main professional expertise is in soccer. Prior to joining FootItalia, he worked for the likes of Sports Mole, TBR Football, the Chelsea Chronicle and numerous other sites, along with having bylines in the likes of the Nottingham Post. He holds degrees in Journalism and International Relations.
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