Man Utd star closing in on transfer move to Serie A giants

Noussair Mazraoui to Manchester United: Milan plot swoop

Noussair Mazraoui to Manchester United: Ruben Amorim wants his man. Again. This time, the Portuguese tactician is looking back at his old stomping ground to solve a glaring defensive issue at the San Siro. Reports from Italian outlet SportMediaset, relayed via Give Me Sport, suggest the newly appointed AC Milan boss has set his sights on Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui. It is a fascinating twist. Amorim was sacked by INEOS in January 2026, but he clearly still rates the defensive tools he left behind in Manchester. (Via Give Me Sport)

How the tables turned at Old Trafford

Life moves fast in football. Mazraoui arrived at United from Bayern Munich back in August 2024 with plenty of pedigree. Under Erik ten Hag, the Moroccan was a regular fixture, racking up 57 appearances across all competitions in his debut campaign. He looked like a shrewd bit of business. Then came the managerial carousel.

Michael Carrick took the reins after Amorim’s departure, steadying a rocking ship and guiding the Red Devils to a respectable third-place finish. Champions League football was secured. Carrick got the job permanently. But his tactical shift immediately changed the reality for Mazraoui.

Carrick prefers a classic back four. Diogo Dalot and a fit-again Luke Shaw are his go-to fullbacks. This left Mazraoui on the periphery. The Moroccan managed just 20 Premier League appearances during the 2025/26 season, failing to find the net. He became a luxury squad player rather than an automatic starter.

Amorim’s Milanese revolution

Now at the helm of AC Milan after replacing Max Allegri, Amorim wants to implement his trusted 3-4-3 system. He needs players who understand the assignment. During his brief, turbulent spell at Old Trafford, Amorim used Mazraoui as a wide central defender. He knows exactly what the 28-year-old can do.

The tactical flexibility Mazraoui offers is a major draw for the Rossoneri. Milan want him. To make it happen, they have already opened direct lines of communication with his agent, Rafaela Pimenta. It is a serious pursuit, driven entirely by Amorim’s personal request to his new employers.

The transfer domino effect

Deals of this size require funding, and Milan have a plan to raise the cash. They intend to sell Pervis Estupiñán to Unai Emery’s Aston Villa. Villa are keen on the former Brighton left-back and are willing to pay.

Milan expect to pocket between €15m and €20m for Estupiñán. Every single penny of that windfall will be redirected straight into the Mazraoui deal. No official bid has landed on the desks at Carrington yet, and Milan have not made formal contact with Manchester United, but the groundwork is being laid with Pimenta.

United are already planning for life without him anyway. Recruitment staff have earmarked Nottingham Forest’s Neco Williams as a prime target to compete with Dalot. If United can get Williams over the line, they will happily greenlight Mazraoui’s departure to Italy.

Scorzo’s opinion: Time for United to cash in

From our perspective, United should grab this opportunity. Mazraoui has done a decent job as a utility man, but he does not fit into Carrick’s long-term vision. He is excess baggage in a squad that needs to trim its wage bill.

Read: AC Milan set sights on £15.1m Manchester United player

Selling him now makes sense for everyone. Amorim gets a defender he trusts, Mazraoui gets regular football in a system that suits his strengths, and United clear some space while bringing in a hungry, domestic replacement like Williams. Holding onto an unhappy bench player serves no one.