Man Utd boss Amorim IN LOVE with ‘smart’ Ten Hag bargain

Noussair Mazraoui is increasingly making the case to go down as Manchester United‘s best signing of the season.

The Morocco international was snapped up in the summer as part of the larger deal that brought Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt to Old Trafford. While the latter has had a mixed season, Mazraoui has been generally impressive.

One of Erik ten Hag’s Ajax protégés, few could have anticipated that by the end of November, he would be Man Utd’s most reliable summer signing.

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Mazraoui only set the Red Devils back €15 million and has had to show all of his versatility this season. A full-back by trade, he was even used in the No.10 position by Ten Hag against Fenerbahce in one of the Dutchman’s final matches.

In Ruben Amorim’s first game in charge, he had to operate in an unfamiliar centre-back position and he came away from the disappointing 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town with more credit in the bank than most Man Utd players.

Mazraoui impresses Amorim

Mazraoui started the game on the right side of Amorim’s three-man defence and won more duels (11) than any other player in the Premier League at the weekend and six more than any of his Man Utd teammates.

The 39-year-old head coach was quick to praise the defender after the match and insisted that he would have a big role to play in getting Man Utd up the table after their worst-ever start to a Premier League season.

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“We don’t have too many centre-backs, so we have to adapt some players,” Amorim said. “I thought Noussair Mazraoui did very well. He is so smart and is so important for us. He can play anywhere and that kind of player is crucial for our future.”

Man Utd take on Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League on Thursday before they host Everton on Sunday.