21yo Man Utd star nearly joined UCL finalist before Carrick sparked incredible revival

Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo came within touching distance of a shock exit before a dramatic turnaround changed everything.

The midfield prodigy was reportedly on the brink of leaving Old Trafford last summer after being inexplicably overlooked by former manager Ruben Amorim.

Napoli were strongly linked with a loan swoop, but fresh reports suggest Arsenal were also lurking in the background.

According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal were at the front of the queue among Premier League clubs waiting to see how the situation played out with Mainoo.

Everything changed the moment Michael Carrick stepped into the dugout.

Under Carrick, the young Englishman has become a near-undroppable presence, starting all but one match due to injury.

His performances have skyrocketed, particularly in recent weeks.

He was Man of the Match against Chelsea and Liverpool, with his late strike helping United beat the defending Premier League champions.

Mainoo signed a new deal with United last week, extending his stay at The Theatre of Dreams until 2031.

Arsenal remain in the market for a dynamic midfielder capable of complementing Declan Rice.

Mainoo could have been a dream signing for the Gunners but we do not think he would have moved to the London outfit.

The academy graduate is a lifelong supporter and has consistently shown unwavering loyalty to the club.

Even during his most difficult period under Amorim, Mainoo only considered a temporary loan rather than a permanent departure.

Arsenal defeated Atletico Madrid yesterday to qualify for the UEFA Champions League final. They could face Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich in the all-important clash in Budapest.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com

Article written by Sanidhya Bhardwaj .