The World Cup standout is said to be suffering from a back problem after leaving Fiorentina for Old Trafford switch on deadline day
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Sofyan Amrabat, a recent addition to Manchester United, has pulled out of his country of Morocco’s international commitments owing to injury.
The midfielder has been replaced in Walid Regragui’s squad by Yahya Gibran for the team’s matches against Liberia on Saturday at home in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier and Burkina Faso next Tuesday in a friendly in France, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation said on Thursday night.
Amrabat last week finally completed his long-awaited summer transfer from Fiorentina to Manchester United on the final day of the transfer window. He agreed to a season-long loan agreement worth £8.6 million that contains the option to make the move permanent the following year for a fee of an additional £17.1 million plus £4.2 million in add-ons.
However, in United’s dramatic late loss to Arsenal before the season’s first international break, the 27-year-old was not in a position to make a swift Premier League debut.
The Athletic later stated that United had discovered a back ailment during Amrabat’s Pisa physical, but they were happy to move forward with the transaction nevertheless given the issue’s minor nature.
Early in the 2023–24 season, the player, who was actively pursuing a transfer to Old Trafford, had yet to play for parent club Fiorentina. He was a substitute but did not play in the 4–1 Serie A victory at Genoa on opening weekend and was left entirely off the matchday squad for the ensuing 2-2 draw with Lecce and both legs of the Europa Conference League play-off match against Rapid Vienna.
United will look to rebound from a difficult start to the season on September 16 at home against high-flying Brighton before starting their Champions’ League group stage campaign away at Bayern Munich four days later. Amrabat, one of the stars of Morocco’s surprise run to the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar last year, will hope that he is not out for an extended period of time.
Walid Regragui welcomed Wydad Sports Club player Yahya Gibran to join the national squad as it gets ready for its two games against Liberia in Agadir and Burkina Faso in Lens, France, according to a statement from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.
Yahya Jeeran was called to the national team by head coach Walid Regragui to take the place of injured Sofiane Amrabat.
Similar circumstances recently occurred with United’s high-profile £72 million transfer of Rasmus Hojlund, who made his Red Devils debut off the bench at Arsenal after originally missing time due to a minor back injury sustained during preseason with Atalanta.
Due to injuries, Erik ten Hag has recently been without a number of players, including Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Tom Heaton, Amad Diallo, and Kobbie Mainoo, who was another significant summer signing.
Due to a foot injury suffered against Arsenal, Lisandro Martinez was substituted early and did not participate in Argentina’s victory over Ecuador in a World Cup qualifying match on Thursday. At the Emirates Stadium, Victor Lindelof was also forced to leave the game due to illness, and Scott McTominay was unable to play due to illness.
