During Sunday’s Premier League match against Arsenal, Sofyan Amrabat, the Manchester United midfielder, showcased his finest display of the season. Despite joining the Red Devils on loan from Fiorentina last summer, where he was expected to challenge Casemiro for a spot, the Moroccan international initially found himself playing out of position at left-back under manager Erik ten Hag. Consequently, he struggled to secure regular starts in any competition. However, amidst the team’s ongoing injury concerns, Amrabat unexpectedly earned a starting position against Arsenal and delivered a commendable performance, demonstrating his versatility and effectiveness on the field. In the match, he registered 84 touches and completed an impressive 63 out of 71 passes, achieving an accuracy rate of 89 percent.
He also secured victory in four one-on-one battles and completed two successful tackles. His positioning at the defensive midfield spot allowed Kobbie Mainoo to play in a more advanced role for United.
Amrabat arrived at the club with a stellar reputation following an impressive performance in the World Cup with Morocco. He was also pivotal in Fiorentina’s strong finish to the previous season.
However, his time at United hasn’t unfolded as anticipated. The board invested heavily, spending €10 million on a loan deal with an option to buy for an initial €20 million.
Under Ten Hag, he has only played 1,300 minutes so far. Some supporters might argue that he deserved more playing time, especially with Casemiro past his prime.
With just three matches remaining in the season, it’s unlikely that United will exercise the option to buy him permanently from Fiorentina this summer.
Despite this, Amrabat is still expected to attract considerable interest. Juventus are leading the race to acquire him, with AC Milan also rumored to be interested in making a move.
