Sofyan Amrabat on Manchester United: Could the Morocco international solve Erik ten Hag’s midfield problems?

Sofyan Amrabat on Manchester United: Could the Morocco international solve Erik ten Hag’s midfield problems?

With insider insider information from his former manager, learn more about Sofyan Amrabat’s past relationship with Erik ten Hag and why the Morocco international has the strength and passing game to help solve Manchester’s midfield problems United…

Manchester United’s midfield issues have been one of the stories of the season so far. Invaded by wolves. Surpassed by Tottenham. Mason Mount is now injured. In the spotlight the form of Casemiro. A solution is urgently needed.

The answer may come in the form of Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat. The Moroccan international has been a star at the World Cup, has been in a relationship with Erik ten Hag since their time together at Utrecht and has been associated with United for much of the summer.

“They don’t want to buy Sofyan Amrabat for nothing,” Gary Neville told Sky Sports. “He wants everyone in the team to be able to embrace and embrace football. Sofyan Amrabat enters, he is a passer and can sit next to Casemiro.

 

 

The Brazilian definitely needs support. Calls for Scott McTominay to return to the starting XI suggest that Amrabat need not be a mix of Roy Keane and Bobby Charlton to make a difference. United are desperate to have a presence there.

There was a time when it was not obvious that Amrabat, now 27, could be that player. Four years ago, he was part of Club Brugge’s chain of three. The turning point came when he was loaned out to Hellas Verona on the understanding that he would be fielded as a number 6.

The emergence of Amrabat

 

There he rediscovers the potential that Ten Hag and others had seen in him when he was a teenager. At that time, Amrabat looked different. The head wasn’t shaved, the frame wasn’t as strong as one who covered more ground than any other player at the World Cup in Qatar. “The Sofyan of 10-12 years ago was very different from now. Not only in terms of age or experience, but also in terms of knowledge of football, knowledge of how to be a professional. He already believed he was a top player, but he had 15 or 16 years old.” This is just the beginning.’

Those are the words of Robin Pronk, former youth coach of FC Utrecht’s Amrabat and now in charge of the Dutch club’s youth academy. He knows the family well having previously coached Amrabat’s older brother Nordin at Ajax. He witnessed the beginning of his transformation. “When he joined my U19 team,” Pronk told Sky Sports, “he made a big transition to a more professional mindset, working hard every day, preparing before training, doing individual programs afterwards. training, running the square and in his spare time “the fitness center.”

 

From an early age, Amrabat was in the spotlight. As a Dutch Under-15 international, his move to Morocco led to talks with Ruud Gullit and Dick Advocaat. “I remember they tried to convince him to choose the Netherlands,” Pronk said.

These overtures were ignored, but there was a Dutchman Amrabat was listening to at the time. “He received a lot of support and attention from Erik ten Hag. The academy was very important in Erik’s philosophy. It was the coach who got him into the first team.”

 

Although, as Pronk admits, “great success came for him in Italy”, it was the two seasons he spent under Ten Hag that saw him grow from a talent to a professional and the put them on the path to a transfer to Feyenoord. “He really did it in the Eredivisie.”

 

What kind of player was young Amrabat? “Now you see what he’s showing, he’s a very strong midfielder.” We discussed with him what he needed to develop because he had the skills to become a great box-to-box player. He had that physical strength.”