Noussair Mazraoui has gone from being described by Ruben Amorim as “the future of our team” at Manchester United to being linked with AC Milan. The interest looks real enough, but the strongest reporting says there are still no negotiations underway and no direct contact between the clubs.

Amorim's view of Mazraoui

Amorim’s admiration is not exactly subtle. In his Metro comments, he called Mazraoui “a top player”, “a modern player” and said he was “the future of our team”. He also praised the Moroccan’s technical level, his one-on-one defending and his ability to control the tempo when in possession.

That kind of language matters because it tells you this is not a loose rumour built from nowhere. Mazraoui has already made 77 appearances for United since his £17m move from Bayern Munich in 2024, so he is not being framed as a project signing or a peripheral squad name. He is an established part of the group.

Milan's interest and the talks that are not happening yet

Matteo Moretto’s update is the important brake on the story. He said Mazraoui is one of Amorim’s favourites, but “as of now there are no negotiations underway, there's no direct contact between the clubs”. That is the bit worth underlining. Interest is one thing. A live transfer process is another.

Moretto also said Mazraoui is 28 and has a contract expiring in 2028 with an option. Football Italia gave the fuller version, saying the deal runs until the summer of 2028, with a club option to extend it for a further 12 months until the summer of 2029. Either way, United are not dealing with a player who is easy to prise away.

Mazraoui’s versatility is part of the appeal. He can play in both full-back positions, and Football Italia said he could also cover roles in Milan’s expected 3-5-2 and 3-4-2-1 systems. That is the kind of profile clubs chase when they want flexibility without rebuilding the squad around one signing.

For now, though, the reporting points in one direction: Amorim likes Mazraoui, Milan like the fit, and the move has not gone beyond that. The next hard fact will come only if the clubs actually open contact, and that has not happened yet.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →