HIBAPRESS
Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim is working on a plan to compensate for the absence of Moroccan right-back Noussair Mazraoui from the ranks of Manchester United, during his participation with the national team in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Mazraoui is one of the mainstays relied upon by the Moroccan national team, led by Walid Regragui, in the upcoming finals in the Kingdom of Morocco. Manchester United is preparing to face a difficult period in the coming weeks, as the absence of international players extends to January 18th, which means the team will lose its stars Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo, in addition to Noussair Mazraoui. Despite the importance of Noussair's role on the right flank, Amorim confirmed that his absence will not be the end of the world, but rather an opportunity to try new talents from the club's academy. He said before the match against Everton: “These are circumstances we knew in advance, but it is also an opportunity for other players. We have an under-21 team and this period is suitable for sending a message. The absence of Mazraoui, Diallo, and Mbeumo is not ideal, because they are very important, but the academy was created for such moments, and we will be ready." Noussair Mazraoui represents a pivotal element in the 3-4-3 style of play, with his ability to support the wings and build the attack, giving the team a numerical advantage in depth, in addition to the quality of his passing and his ability to press and retrieve, which makes his replacement a major technical challenge. Amorim is heading towards compensating for Mazraoui's absence by relying on the duo Ethan Hughten and Marcus Laurence, as prominent options to strengthen the right flank during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations period.
