Amorim Vows to Block All January Exits as Manchester United Squad Hits Breaking Point Due to Injuries and AFCON Absences

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has sent a clear message to his squad ahead of the winter window: no one is leaving Old Trafford.

Speaking ahead of the Boxing Day clash against Newcastle United today, Friday, December 26, 2025, the Portuguese tactician admitted that while several players are frustrated by a lack of playing time, the club’s current “short” numbers make mid-season departures a luxury they cannot afford.

The announcement serves as a significant blow to the duo of Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee. Mainoo, the 20-year-old England international, has yet to start a Premier League match this season and was reportedly pushing for a loan move to regain rhythm. Similarly, Zirkzee has been heavily linked with a return to Italy’s Serie A after a difficult start to his life in Manchester.

“It is going to be hard for someone to leave the club if we don’t get a substitution,” Amorim told reporters. “We are short. Even with a full squad, we are short for the responsibilities this club has. We need to win every game, and there are no excuses.”

The manager’s “transfer lockdown” is a direct response to a perfect storm of squad availability issues. With the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) stripping the team of Amad Diallo, Noussair Mazraoui, and Bryan Mbeumo, and a fresh hamstring injury to captain Bruno Fernandes, United’s midfield and defensive options have reached a critical low.

Despite the pressure to bolster the ranks, Amorim was adamant that the club would stick to a long-term plan rather than repeating the “panic buying” mistakes of previous regimes. “If we have the opportunity to bring a player that we think is the future of the club, he is going to come. If not, we will work with what we have. I have Jack [Fletcher], I have Shea [Lacey]. We will survive.”

Regarding the veteran pair of Casemiro and Harry Maguire, whose contracts expire in the summer, Amorim confirmed that “no decision” has been made on their futures. For now, they remain integral parts of a squad that Amorim is determined to keep intact as the Red Devils chase a European qualification spot in the second half of the 2025/26 season.