Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui has been impressing on the World Cup stage.
Noussair Mazraoui is Manchester United and Morocco’s reliable defender, capable of playing in any position across the back four.
For Morocco he is utilised as a left-back, with Achraf Hakimi a regular on the right. It makes little difference to Mazraoui, who gives a top performance wherever he plays.
His output has become routine at this point, but former Ajax winger Ibrahim Afellay wants Mazraoui to get more attention.
Afellay worked with Mazraoui when he was in the Ajax academy and he has been blown away by the defender’s success.
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Ibrahim Afellay on Noussair Mazraoui
Ibrahim Afellay spoke to Dutch television during the World Cup, quoted via FCUpdate. He explained that he was impressed by Mazraoui’s career progression.
He said that Mazraoui was not one the standout players at Ajax initially, which makes him appreciate his achievements even more.
Afellay said: “I was a youth coach at Ajax, where he was one of the players. And in the A1s, he was number thirteen or fourteen. If it wasn’t that important for a moment, he would come on.
“That makes it all the more impressive to see someone make such leaps and that he ended up at Manchester United.”
Afellay wants Mazraoui to get a little more adulation than he currently receives, pointing out that at Manchester United he is just a name and number, overshadowed by bigger stars.
“He never really received the appreciation he actually deserves? He was a decent player at Ajax too. At Manchester United, he is simply a highly valued asset.
“He wasn’t always lauded at Ajax. You had players like Tadic and Frenkie de Jong, which meant he faded more into the background. But he was already very good back then.”
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Mazraoui and Morocco set for success
Noussair Mazraoui and Morocco reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2022, and they have started this campaign strongly.
Morocco began with a 1-1 draw against Brazil, before beating Scotland 1-0. It is possible they could even end up as group winners.
Afellay notes Mazraoui’s part in their success, adding: “Left-back is not his natural position, but the way he fills that role for Morocco is impressive.”
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