Napoli have not dismissed the possibility of pursuing Kobbie Mainoo on loan as the Manchester United midfielder seeks regular playing time. Mainoo has struggled for minutes under Ruben Amorim and is reported to favour a temporary move abroad when the January transfer window opens, with links to Napoli and Bayern Munich.

Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna spoke to Sky Sport Italia about the club’s potential involvement, suggesting any approach would be evaluated. “He is a player who has been linked to Napoli since August, also for his age, his potential, and the transfer opportunity,” Manna said. “This team is doing well, it is consolidated. We have some important absences right now, but sooner or later the lads will return, strong and determined. We have to make the right evaluations, so we’ll see how things progress along the way.”

The interest is framed by recent business between the two clubs. Napoli have taken Scott McTominay and Rasmus Højlund from Manchester United in the past couple of years, moves that the Italian club will be conscious of as they weigh any further activity.

Reports in the Daily Mail indicate Mainoo has chosen Napoli as his preferred destination and that “at least 12 clubs” could show interest if Manchester United permit a loan. The player was thought to have been keen on a move to Naples over the summer as well. Any transfer is likely to depend on United’s willingness to engage and whether the club requires a replacement first. It has also been suggested a decision on Mainoo might be delayed until after Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo return from the Africa Cup of Nations.

Mainoo’s limited appearances this season have prompted questions whenever Amorim has faced the media. On the topic, the United boss said: “I see it. I just want to win, I try to put the players, I don’t look who it is, I don’t care about that, I’m just trying to put the best players on the pitch,” reinforcing that selection is based on performance and team needs.

Few ruptures destabilise a team like a public falling-out between player and manager. Across international tournaments and club dressing rooms, such confrontations have reshaped squads and careers.

The 2002 Saipan incident remains one of the most notorious cases, so notorious a film was made about it starring Steve Coogan. Roy Keane publicly confronted Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy over pre-tournament preparations in Saipan. The argument spilled out in a team meeting and exploded into a venomous outburst: “Mick, you’re a liar … you’re a f—– w—–,” Keane barked. “I didn’t rate you as a player, I don’t rate you as a manager, and I don’t rate you as a person. You’re a f—– w—– and you can stick your World Cup up your a—. The only reason I have any dealings with you is that somehow you are the manager of my country!” Keane did not play at that World Cup and did not return to international duty until McCarthy’s dismissal.

At Manchester United tensions between David Beckham and Sir Alex Ferguson reached a physical flashpoint in February 2003 after an FA Cup fifth round defeat to Arsenal. Ferguson kicked a boot that struck Beckham above the eye, leaving a cut. Beckham wore a small plaster on his eyebrow at his next public appearance. The season ended with Beckham leaving Old Trafford for Real Madrid.

Zlatan Ibrahimović’s time at Barcelona collapsed after a dressing-room confrontation with Pep Guardiola following a Champions League semi-final defeat to Bayern Munich. “Guardiola was staring at me and I lost it,” Ibrahimović said. “I thought, ‘there is my enemy, scratching his bald head!’ “I yelled: ‘You haven’t got any b—-!’ and worse than that I added: ‘You can go to hell!’ I completely lost it, and you might have expected Guardiola to say a few words in response, but he’s a spineless coward.” Ibrahimović moved on loan to AC Milan and later completed a permanent transfer.

France’s 2010 World Cup campaign also featured a midgame bust-up. At halftime of the group defeat to Mexico, Nicolas Anelka allegedly told manager Raymond Domenech: “Go f— yourself, you son of a w—-.” He was substituted and subsequently sent home.

Finally, the Pogba-Mourinho relationship at Manchester United deteriorated after public disagreement over the team’s approach in 2018–19. Mourinho reportedly told Pogba he would never captain the Red Devils and later labelled him a “virus” that “kills the mentality of good, honest people.” Pogba was left out of a squad and Mourinho was sacked following a defeat to Liverpool.

Alejandro Garnacho has been unequivocal about his decision to leave Manchester United for Chelsea, describing the summer switch as a “step forwards.” When asked whether he regretted the way his Old Trafford exit unfolded, the winger replied in one word: “No.” He repeated the same one-word response to confirm he was not sad about leaving.

Garnacho’s final months under United manager Ruben Amorim were turbulent. He was dropped from the squad for a Manchester derby in December 2024 alongside Marcus Rashford. After working his way back into the side he finished his spell in frustration, publicly clashing with the boss over his omission from the Europa League final starting lineup. Months later a £40 million ($53.3 million) transfer to Chelsea completed the move.

The 21-year-old has had a mixed start at Stamford Bridge. In the Premier League he has made nine appearances, starting six of those games, and has contributed one goal and two assists. Those figures have not been eye-catching, but Garnacho has been clear that a change of environment mattered.

He singled out Blues manager Enzo Maresca for the role he believes the coach has played in his early progress. “I spoke with [Maresca before joining], he explained everything to me,” Garnacho said. “Now working together I think we are doing well, we are going to improve with time, it’s just three months. He trusts me.

“So that’s the most important [thing]—we have confidence and we are going to improve. The most important thing is confidence. He speaks with me every week and I think we’re going to be better—me as a player and the team all together, with time. We started the season three months ago so there’s confidence between manager and player.

“Sometimes in life you have to change things to maybe take a step forward or to improve as a player. It was the right moment, also the right club, so it was an easy decision.”

For now Garnacho’s stance is clear: the transfer was intended to move his career forward, and he expects both his individual form and the team’s fortunes to improve as trust grows between player and coach.