Sofyan Amrabat’s agent has admitted that Manchester United attempted to take Morocco’s Qatar World Cup hero to the Premier League in January and believes Fiorentina could sell this summer.
In truth, how much did we really learn from Sunday’s dismal 2-0 defeat at Newcastle. That Wout Weghorst is not the man to lead the line for Erik ten Hag’s side beyond this campaign? That David de Gea’s kicking needs some work.
That a United side without Casemiro doing his bone-rattling act in the middle of the park is far easier to create chances against? In truth, we knew all of this long before Joe Willock had opened the scoring at St James’ Park.
The good news is that these are all problems which can be fixed with a couple of intelligent summer additions. Weghorst the Workhorse was only meant to be a short-term solution anyway. De Gea may be signing a new deal but David Raya and Diogo Costa, two of Europe’s best ball-playing goalkeepers, remain of interest.
And as for a Casemiro back-up, well you’d struggle to find a better one than Sofyan Amrabat; the standout defensive midfielder in Qatar.
Amrabat was industrial-strength superglue at the heart of a Moroccan team who made history by reaching the semi-finals. The first African team ever to do so.
Sofyan Amrabat can be Manchester United’s next Casemiro
Nordin Amrabat, Sofyan’s older brother, admitted to ESPN recently that Man United attempted to sign the Fiorentina enforcer on loan with an option to buy towards the end of the January transfer window.
A point now backed up by the former Feyenoord star’s agent, Mohamed Sinouh.
“We received more than one offer during the winter window,” Sinouh tells Kora Plus. “Including one from Manchester United, but the negotiation was not completed.
“The president of Fiorentina (Rocco Commisso) absolutely refused to let him leave at that moment. He represented value for the team, especially after what he did in the World Cup.”
Amrabat, labelled ‘world-class’ by Morocco coach Walid Regragui, averaged 2.3 successful tackles per game at the World Cup (WhoScored). He was outstanding during famous wins over Spain and Portugal.
And if Manchester United renew their interest – Casemiro’s recent suspensions highlighting the lack of genuine cover for the brilliant Brazilian – the good news is that, according to Sinouh, Fiorentina will consider any ‘offers’ that come their way.
“The future? At the moment we have no offers for the summer. But Fiorentina will listen to the offers,” the agent adds of his £35 million-rated client.
“It’s a promise we got from the president after he rejected the offers in the winter transfer market.”
Casemiro remains absent for Wednesday’s Premier League clash with Brentford at Old Trafford. The good news, at least, is that Christian Eriksen is back in training.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
