Erik ten Hag has gifted Rúben Amorim a secret weapon that can change Manchester United

Although many are wondering how different Manchester United could look under Rúben Amorim, Erik ten Hag may have already gifted him a secret weapon.

With Rúben Amorim set to take control of Manchester United‘s first-team squad following the sacking of Erik ten Hag, there is much to ponder.

With co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe‘s vision for the Old Trafford side starting to take shape around ten months after his purchase, many expect that Amorim will rip through the squad Ten Hag has assembled across the last two and a half seasons at United.

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Over the course of the rest of this season, he is expected to pick and choose those players he likes and wants to keep, and those he feels are surplus to requirements for the squad.

Although rumours swirl around who the 39-year-old is expected to keep, sell, or bring in across the following few transfer windows, there is one man that Ten Hag has left him, who is a secret weapon.

Ten Hag’s secret weapon

In the summer transfer window, United recruited Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, and Manuel UGarte, all of which have had varying levels of success since they joined the club bar Yoro, who is yet to make his debut.

However, although much of the focus has been on the performance of Ugarte and Zirkzee, a man who has gone somewhat under the radar until last week has been Mazraoui.

Signing from Bayern Munich for a fee of around £12 million, Mazraoui came in to replace Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Coming to Old Trafford with a dodgy injury record, Ten Hag’s recruitment was questioned.

However, the Morrocan international’s performances have been almost flawless since he joined the club. Just days after signing, he was thrust into the XI against Fulham and has been used as a right-back, left-back, and even attacking midfielder while options were limited last month.

Mazraoui’s brilliance since the season started has proved that Ten Hag’s decision to bring in the 26-year-old was a shrewd business decision that, despite the Dutchman’s flaws, should be commended.

He can change United under Amorim

Now, regarding Rúben Amorim, Mazraoui can be a character that could very much transform United from a dysfunctional set up to the well-oiled machine Amorim is expected to form at the club.

Although he has operated mainly as a right-back this season, he proved himself brilliantly at left-back against Chelsea, earning United’s Player of the Match award, and what particularly stood out was his overlapping runs.

Although the side didn’t properly use them, this is a sign that if Amorim deploys his famed back-three formation with advanced wing-backs at Old Trafford, Mazraoui may become an integral part of the Portuguese head coach’s plan.

Considering the mooted opinion when United initially signed Mazraoui, Ten Hag has left Amorim with a brilliant secret weapon that could become an indispensable part of his squad at the club.

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