Ruben Amorim is finally providing Noussair Mazraoui with the ‘perfect’ gift which he begged for at Manchester United last season.
Noussair Mazraoui joined Manchester United from Bayern Munich in a £17 million deal last summer to replace the outgoing Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
It was initially expected that the Moroccan international would be a solid back-up for Diogo Dalot at right-back but he soon proved to be one of the most consistent performers at Old Trafford.
After Ruben Amorim came into the club, Mazraoui was able to excel in the wide centre-back role but also played a lot of football as a wingback as well.
Out of the 42 games the Portuguese head coach had last term, Mazraoui started 38 of them and proved himself to be a solid signing for the club.
What Mazraoui said about playing at wingback
Mazraoui’s performances last season pleasantly surprised a lot of fans but in the new system, it became obvious quickly that he did not suit the wingback position.
The 27-year-old started 20 games as a centre-back but also 19 as a wingback across the campaign. He doesn’t have the offensive qualities to excel on the flanks.
This is not just something fans noticed, but also the player himself. Mazraoui made clear in a recent interview that he prefers playing in the back three and that a more naturally attacking player should be operating at wingback.
The 27-year-old told reporters in May: “I have some qualities which fit perfectly with the position, like in the right centre-back, I really like to go forward with the ball.
“So in the build-up and break the lines, that’s something I can do good. So I’m comfortable on the ball.
“But it’s not like attacking as wing back. And wing back, a lot of times you come in a right wing position. For that, you really need like Amad one-v-one skill. That’s maybe not my biggest strength.
“So on both positions, you know some good points and some points which you feel like, ‘okay, maybe it’s better to play in another position’.”
Mbeumo signing gives Mazraoui what he begged for
Fortunately, Mazraoui’s wish seems like it will be granted next season after the signing of Bryan Mbeumo, which looks likely to be finalised in the coming days as United and Brentford are close to an agreement.
The main problem last season was the lack of options in those wingback roles, and that was partly because any kind of attacking options had to play in the frontline.
But with more options like Matheus Cunha and Mbeumo in that front three, Amad looks set to permanently switch to the wingback role, with Diogo Dalot as a backup in that position.
That will then allow Mazraoui to be used soley in the back three, which is clearly where he wants to play and operates at his best. But consistent game-time will not be easy with the competition around.
With Ayden Heaven pushing for involvement on the left, Leny Yoro will likely be used more on the right side and so Mazraoui will have to push to be in the team. Although, playing slightly less amount of football next term will probably be good for him after almost 60 games last season.
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