Amorim plots Mazraoui reunion as AC Milan circle Old Trafford

Trust Ruben Amorim to make a statement the minute he hits the San Siro. The former Manchester United boss is already dipping into his old contacts book, sounding out a reunion with versatile defender Noussair Mazraoui as AC Milan set about shoring up a leaky back line.

Talks in motion — but no bid yet

According to SportMediaset, Amorim and Milan have opened dialogue with Mazraoui and his agent, Rafaela Pimenta, over a move to Serie A. The 29-year-old is high on Amorim’s wishlist and viewed as a plug-and-play option for his system. Crucially, there’s been no contact with Manchester United at this stage — and no formal offer laid on the table for club or player. That tells you we’re still in the feeling-out phase rather than the end game.

Why Mazraoui ticks the Amorim boxes

Mazraoui rocked up at Old Trafford in August 2024 from Bayern Munich as part of a double swoop that also brought Matthijs De Ligt. Since then he’s racked up 77 outings in red, covering as a full-back on either flank and at centre-back — he even had a cameo as a No 10 under Erik ten Hag, which says plenty about his football brain.

Under Michael Carrick, though, he’s slipped into the understudy role behind Diogo Dalot on the right and Luke Shaw on the left. Amorim, meanwhile, knows exactly what he’s getting: he used Mazraoui as one of the wide central defenders in his 3-4-3 and clearly fancies a reprise in Milan. The plan, per the report, is for Mazraoui to help fill the void if Pervis Estupiñán departs, with the Ecuadorian attracting serious interest from Aston Villa.

United’s dilemma: depth or deal?

United are gearing up for a busier campaign after clawing their way back into the Champions League under Carrick, and that means depth can’t be a luxury — it’s a necessity. In terms of two-way full-backs who can step in across the line without fuss, there aren’t many better squad options than Mazraoui. Zlatan Ibrahimović has even labelled him “special”, and you don’t get that sort of compliment for nothing.

If a whopper of an offer lands, fair enough — you listen. Otherwise, keeping a cool, experienced head who raises standards and pushes Dalot and Shaw feels smart. Letting him go now risks leaving United one injury away from a defensive reshuffle they don’t need.

The state of play

Amorim has made his intentions clear and Milan like the deal, but until a formal approach is lodged, it’s all shadows and whispers. United hold the cards. If they want to keep their man, they can; if they want to negotiate, they’ll need to move decisively before Milan circle back with numbers.

For anyone weighing up how this saga might swing, our guide to the best betting sites will keep you in the know when the odds start to shift.

Bottom line: Amorim sees a familiar face who fits his blueprint. United see a valuable squad piece as Europe beckons again. The next phone call will tell us which view wins out.