Despite receiving limited opportunities, Sofyan Amrabat has failed to live up to expectations when given the chance to play. In the Premier League’s round 27 match against Manchester City on March 3, Manchester United put up a poor performance. They initially took the lead through Marcus Rashford but saw Manchester City turn the game around and score three consecutive goals after halftime.

 

One of coach Erik ten Hag’s questionable decisions was to bring on Sofyan Amrabat as a substitute for Kobbie Mainoo in the 82nd minute. Unfortunately, Amrabat’s performance was far from impressive, and he struggled with ball handling in the 90+1 minute. A Fiorentina player managed to steal the ball in Manchester United’s own half, causing a dangerous situation.

 

With the score at 2-1, Norwegian striker Erling Haaland found the net easily, crushing Manchester United’s hopes of salvaging a point. Amrabat’s disappointment was evident after making a mistake, and his reaction contributed to Manchester United conceding a third goal. When Amrabat was brought in on loan, there were hopes that he could be a “Sabitzer 2.0,” surpassing Marcel Sabitzer’s underwhelming performance during his time at Manchester United. However, Sabitzer failed to meet expectations last season, and as a result, Manchester United decided against signing him permanently.

 

Coach Erik ten Hag made efforts to revive Amrabat’s game through various reforms in the summer of 2023. Despite the deal appearing to fall apart at the last moment, Amrabat’s strong loyalty and patience in waiting for Manchester United to work things out were notable. Amrabat had already made an impression before joining Manchester United, particularly with his intense playing style, ball retention skills, and ability to recover the ball. His standout performances at the 2022 World Cup helped Morocco become the first African team to reach the semifinals.

 

However, the highly competitive Premier League environment proved challenging for Amrabat, and he gradually faded into the background. British media have highlighted his occasional struggles with ball retention despite his good distribution ability.

 

Unfortunately, Amrabat’s name is now rarely mentioned at Old Trafford, and more was expected from a player who had shone on the international stage. Even when key players like Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, and Mason Mount were injured, Amrabat failed to make significant progress. His poor performance as a substitute against Manchester City further jeopardized his future with Manchester United.