Manchester United’s position on the Royal Moroccan Football Federation is clear after the dilemma around Noussair Mazraoui ahead of the start of the 2025 AFCON tournament.
Ruben Amorim had been left in a period of uncertainty around Noussair Mazraoui, Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo before the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations.
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The 40-year-old Manchester United manager was able to breathe a sigh of relief around Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo for the Bournemouth match on Monday.
The Red Devils were able to keep Cameroon forward Mbeumo and Ivory Coast winger Amad for United’s 4-4 draw against Bournemouth in the Premier League.
However, Ruben Amorim was unable to include Morocco international Mazraoui in his United squad for the Bournemouth clash at Old Trafford on Monday evening.
Man Utd’s reaction to the Royal Moroccan Football Federation’s call over AFCON-bound Noussair Mazraoui
Morocco are the host nation of the 2025 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations and will kick off the tournament on Sunday in their Group A clash against Comoros.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation made the decision to call up Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui for international duty ahead of AFCON.
FIFA had revised the deadline date for when clubs would be required to release their players for the AFCON tournament, which will run from December to January.
The new date, which was announced earlier this month, was set for 15th December rather than the two-week window ahead of the tournament starting on 21st.
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According to BBC Sport, United insiders have now revealed that the Premier League club feel that they have ‘been unfairly treated’ over the situation around Mazraoui.
Mazraoui was with the United first-team squad last week and the 28-year-old Morocco star had been training with the Red Devils for the Bournemouth match.
BBC Sport has said that there has been ‘considerable frustration’ at United after Morocco’s footballing authority scuppered Mazraoui’s involvement in Monday’s draw.
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Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo have now left Old Trafford and linked up with their respective nations ahead of Cameroon and the Ivory Coast’s AFCON campaigns.
Both Cameroon and the Ivory Coast are in action at a later stage than host nation Morocco, which led to Mazraoui missing United’s 4-4 draw against Bournemouth.
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BBC Sport reports that United felt that the Cameroonian Football Federation and Ivorian Football Federation were more ‘sympathetic and collaborative’ over talks.
The Red Devils hold the view that the Royal Moroccan Football Federation instead ‘prioritised a national team training session’ ahead of an ‘important league’ match.
United manager Ruben Amorim will now be without AFCON-bound Mbeumo, Amad and Mazraoui for Sunday’s Premier League clash against Aston Villa at Villa Park.
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