Football has always been about rivalries. Clubs fight for trophies, pride, and dominance, but sometimes, a rivalry runs so deep that even the idea of a transfer across enemy lines feels impossible. That is the case in Manchester, where the red and blue sides of the city have lived in eternal competition. Manchester United versus Manchester City is not just a fixture; it is a battle for identity, power, and bragging rights. For over a century, these two clubs have fought for control of the city, and the hatred has often meant that players very rarely cross the divide. Yet, in 2025, something unthinkable is brewing.
Reports have emerged that Pep Guardiola, the master tactician and serial winner, has given his blessing for Manchester City to pursue a shock move for Manchester United’s young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo. If this transfer were to happen, it would be the first direct transfer between the two clubs this century, something that would send shockwaves not only through Manchester but across world football.
To understand the weight of this story, you have to go back in time. Transfers between the two Manchester giants have always been rare. The last direct move for a transfer fee was Terry Cooke leaving United for City in 1999. Before that, Tony Coton switched from City to United in 1996, although he never played a Premier League game for the Red Devils. The biggest and most dramatic case was Carlos Tevez in 2009, when he rejected a permanent deal at Old Trafford and joined City instead. That move sparked chaos, billboards, and derby drama. But even then, technically, Tevez was owned by West Ham before the switch, meaning it wasn’t a straight transfer between the two rivals.
This is why the possibility of Kobbie Mainoo moving to the Etihad feels historic. Mainoo is not just any youngster. He is regarded as one of the brightest English midfield prospects of his generation. Calm under pressure, technically superb, and intelligent with the ball, he has the qualities Guardiola adores in midfielders. Yet, despite his talent, Mainoo has found himself frustrated this season under new Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim. He is yet to start a Premier League game, and his desire for minutes reportedly left him keen on a loan move before the summer window closed. United refused to let him go, but now their rivals are watching closely.
TEAMtalk reported that City are seriously considering testing United’s resolve. Guardiola is said to admire Mainoo deeply and believes he could thrive in City’s high-intensity, possession-dominant system. For a player who can dictate tempo, press, and adapt to complex tactical demands, there could be no better environment than under Pep. But what would it mean if this deal actually happened?
It would not just be a trasfer. It would be a betrayal in the eyes of many United fans, who would never forgive the club for letting one of their own cross into enemy territory. It would also be a power statement from City, showing they are not just dominating on the pitch but also bold enough to poach talent directly from their fiercest rivals. The sight of Mainoo in sky blue, playing at the Etihad and thriving under Guardiola, would be the ultimate insult to United supporters.
But this is only half of the storm swirling around Old Trafford right now. As the Mainoo saga brews, Manchester United have reportedly agreed to let goalkeeper Andre Onana leave the club on loan, just days after the transfer window shut. The story, broken by Fabrizio Romano, revealed that Turkish giants Trabzonspor have reached a verbal agreement with United to take the Cameroonian keeper. The final decision rests with Onana himself.
This development is shocking but not entirely surprising. Onana’s time at United has been nothing short of a nightmare. Signed in 2023 from Inter Milan to replace David de Gea, he arrived with huge expectations. He was supposed to bring calm distribution and world-class saves, but instead, he delivered a string of high-profile errors. From Champions League mistakes to Premier League blunders, his confidence seemed shattered. Now, just two years later, he is on the verge of being shipped out, while Altay Bayindir, the second-choice keeper, has been trusted to start the opening games of the 2025/26 season.
For Ruben Amorim, the decision was simple: results matter. He could no longer afford to stick with Onana when his mistakes were costing points. But for Onana, the fall has been brutal. Once regarded as one of Europe’s finest goalkeepers, he is now looking at a loan move to Turkey just to restart his career. Trabzonspor may not have the glamour of Old Trafford, but they have passion. Their fans are among the most intense in the world. Stories from past players describe being rated in training games by local journalists, with scores printed in newspapers. The pressure is enormous, but maybe that is exactly what Onana needs—a fresh start, away from the relentless spotlight of Manchester.
Put together, the Mainoo and Onana situations reveal a picture of instability at United. The club spent heavily in the summer, bringing in names like Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, and Diego Leon, spending over £200m. But they also lost key players, with Marcus Rashford, Rasmus Hojlund, and Alejandro Garnacho all leaving on loan. Amorim is trying to rebuild, but already cracks are showing. When you are losing keepers and facing the possibility of young stars leaving for your biggest rival, the pressure only grows heavier.
For City, meanwhile, the thought of Mainoo joining their ranks is exciting. Guardiola has already built perhaps the most dominant side in Premier League history, winning titles, Champions Leagues, and rewriting records. Adding a player like Mainoo, young, hungry, and adaptable, would be both a long-term investment and a symbolic blow to their neighbours. It would echo the Tevez saga but in an even more powerful way, because this time it would be a direct move.
The rivalry between Manchester United and Manchester City has always been fierce, but in the last decade, the balance of power has shifted dramatically. United, once the kings of English football, have fallen into years of decline since Sir Alex Ferguson retired. City, on the other hand, have risen to become a global powerhouse under Pep Guardiola, collecting trophies and building a squad filled with world-class talent. To see a young United star like Mainoo walk into City’s dressing room would be another reminder of that shift
United fans still sing about their history, their 20 league titles, and their nights of glory in Europe. City fans sing about their dominance now, their treble, their Guardiola era. But football does not stand still, and transfers often tell the story of where power truly lies. If Mainoo does leave, it will be remembered as a moment when City showed they could even take from their rival’s future.
And then there is Onana, a player who symbolizes United’s recent chaos in the transfer market. From De Gea’s messy exit to the expensive gamble on Onana, and now this loan saga with Trabzonspor, it shows how far United still are from stability. Their goalkeeping position, once a source of strength, has become a revolving door. For fans, it is heartbreaking to see, especially when compared with City’s calm dominance under Guardiola.
As of now, nothing is confirmed. Mainoo is still a United player, and Onana has yet to give his final answer to Trabzonspor. But football is full of twists, and this story has all the elements of drama: rivalry, betrayal, redemption, and history.
If Mainoo joins City, it will be one of the most explosive transfers in Premier League history. If Onana leaves, it will mark another chapter in United’s struggle to rebuild. And if both happen, the city of Manchester may never be the same again.
For now, fans wait, argue, and dream. United fans hope their club keeps hold of Mainoo and that Onana can rediscover himself somewhere else. City fans dream of seeing a young Red turn into a Sky Blue hero under Pep. And across the world, football supporters watch closely, because this is not just about transfers. This is about pride, history, and the future of two giants who share a city but will never share peace.
In Manchester, the blue side is smiling, the red side is trembling, and the rest of us are witnessing a rivalry that never dies, only evolves.
