Sofyan Amrabat has rebounded from his unceremonious Manchester United departure and is now preparing for a World Cup last-16 clash with Canada. The Moroccan midfielder, who spent the 2023-24 season on loan at Old Trafford, revealed that manager Erik ten Hag wanted to keep him, but the club opted not to make the move permanent.
Ten Hag Wanted Amrabat to Stay
Speaking to the Daily Mail in 2024, Amrabat said: "He (Ten Hag) wanted to keep me this summer so I wish him the best but not for Thursday. I hope they lose." The comment came ahead of a Europa League match between his new club Fenerbahce and Manchester United, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Amrabat hinted that United's director of football, Jason Wilcox, was behind his exit, stating: "[You'll] have to ask Mr. Wilcox."
FA Cup Success and a Modest Release Clause
During his sole season at United, Amrabat played the full 90 minutes in the FA Cup final, helping the team defeat Manchester City at Wembley. Despite this, United declined to trigger his £21 million release clause, instead paying Paris Saint-Germain £51 million for Manuel Ugarte, who now faces an uncertain future after a serious knee injury sustained on World Cup duty.
Morocco's World Cup Journey
Amrabat has appeared in one of Morocco's four matches at the 2026 World Cup, playing the full match in a 4-2 group-stage victory over Haiti. The Atlas Lions advanced to the last 16 after a penalty shootout win against the Netherlands and a 1-1 draw with Brazil. They now face co-hosts Canada in Houston on Saturday, with a potential quarter-final against France looming.
Despite limited playing time, Amrabat faces stiff competition in midfield from Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi, Roma's Neil El Aynaoui, and Girona's Azzedine Ounahi. Morocco aims to become the first African nation to win the World Cup, building on their semi-final run in 2022.
