Manchester United legend Bryan Robson has advised Ruben Amorim to play Kobbie Mainoo in a deeper midfield role alongside Casemiro, which would free Bruno Fernandes to return to a more advanced, attacking position.
According to Manchester Evening News reporting, Manchester United legend Bryan Robson has advised manager Ruben Amorim to make a significant positional change for captain Bruno Fernandes, suggesting that academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo is the key to unlocking the Portugal international’s attacking potential.
Since the arrival of Amorim, Fernandes has often been utilised in a deeper midfield role. While he still managed an impressive 19 goals and 19 assists last season, Robson argues that restoring the captain to his natural attacking position would benefit the entire team.
The former United midfielder believes Mainoo should be deployed alongside Casemiro in a midfield pivot, thereby freeing Fernandes to return to the number 10 role where he excels.
Speaking to Grovesnor Casinos, Robson backed Fernandes’s commitment to the club, saying: “I think Bruno Fernandes himself loves the club and I think Bruno would like to stay and will stay.”
He then outlined his plan for Mainoo’s development: “Kobbie Mainoo can play in that position at a push. But for me, if I was a coach within Man United, I would be trying to develop him so then he can play alongside Casemiro and then Bruno can go off and do what Bruno does brilliantly.”
Mainoo, who has struggled for consistent minutes in 2025, has also been backed by the United icon. Robson believes the young midfielder possesses the qualities needed for the defensive midfield role. He added:
“There’s still improvement in Mainoo, but I could see him being in the role where he can be a midfield player who can do both and have a bit more responsibility in the defending side of the game.”
Robson’s comments suggest that placing Mainoo next to Casemiro would provide the defensive stability needed for the club to fully benefit from Fernandes’s creative freedom up the pitch.