Man Utd warned by Fabrizio Romano not to ditch summer flop

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 19 Dec 2023 07:47 GMT
• 3 min read

Fabrizio Romano has hinted that Man Utd would be making a mistake ditching Sofyan Amrabat in January.

United paid €9m in the summer to sign Amrabat on loan for the season from Fiorentina.

The Red Devils have the option to make the deal permanent for €25m.

However, Amrabat has struggled badly to replicate his form from Fiorentina at Old Trafford.

This has led to reports that United are considering cutting short his loan spell during the January transfer window, and essentially sending him back to Italy.

PianetaMilan reported last week that Milan will sell Rade Krunic in January to Fenerbahce, leaving them needing to find a replacement at centre midfield.

The plan is to then open talks with Manchester United, hoping to take on the Red Devils’ loan and option to buy of Amrabat.

United are said to be open to the suggestion as they have been left very disappointed by the Moroccan since he arrived at the club.

Milan would thus take on the €4.5m loan fee owed for Amrabat from January until June, and retain the option to sign Amrabat permanently at the end of the season.

But Romano hinted that United would be making a mistake doing this.

What did Romano say about Amrabat?

"In Italy, when he was in full condition, he was an absolute monster in the midfield. You need him 100% fit,” Romano said on The United Stand.

The Guardian reported earlier this month that United plan to sign a new defensive midfielder in January as they have given up on Amrabat being suitable as a first-team starter in the role.

The Moroccan established himself as one of Europe’s most admired central midfielders at Fiorentina last season, with Barcelona and Chelsea also trying to sign him during the January transfer window of 2023.

However, after recovering from injury upon joining Man Utd, Amrabat has struggled badly.

Initially he was played out of position at left-back by Erik ten Hag amidst an injury crisis in the position.

Amrabat struggled in the role and he was especially poor in the 3-2 home defeat by Galatasaray in the Champions League.

But the Moroccan has since also struggled since being moved to his preferred position at central midfield.

Man Utd have had their worst start to a season in over 30 years and failed to qualify for the Champions League last-16 as they finished bottom of their group, behind Bayern Munich, Galatasaray and Copenhagen.