Amrabat: I was forced out of Man Utd, now I’m in the World Cup last 16 with Morocco

Sofyan Amrabat has revealed he felt “forced out” of Manchester United despite Erik ten Hag wanting to keep him at Old Trafford, as the midfielder prepares to help Morocco chase a historic run at the World Cup. The Atlas Lions face Canada in Houston on Saturday with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs.

Amrabat spent a season on loan at United from Fiorentina under Ten Hag, with whom he had previously worked at Utrecht as a young player. The loan spell ended without a permanent transfer, and the Morocco international has since suggested he did not leave by choice.

FA Cup glory before an unwanted exit

During his sole campaign in England, Amrabat played the full 90 minutes as United beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley, giving Ten Hag his first major trophy in charge. Despite that success, United chose not to activate a reported £21million option to sign him permanently.

Instead, the club spent £51million on Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain, a deal that now looks uncertain to pay off given the Uruguayan’s struggles at Old Trafford. Ugarte’s future has been complicated further by a serious knee injury suffered on World Cup duty, which could delay any potential departure this summer.

Speaking to the Daily Mail in 2024 ahead of a Europa League meeting between his new club Fenerbahce and United, Amrabat said: “I have a special relationship with Ten Hag since I was a 20-year-old at Utrecht. He wanted to keep me this summer so I wish him the best but not for Thursday. I hope they lose.”

When asked more directly about the circumstances of his exit, Amrabat pointed towards United’s hierarchy rather than Ten Hag, saying: “[You’ll] have to ask [United’s director of football] Mr. [Jason] Wilcox.”

Morocco’s World Cup adventure continues

Two years on from his United departure, the 29-year-old is part of Mohamed Ouahbi’s Morocco squad aiming to become the first African nation to win the World Cup. Amrabat, who spent last season on loan at Real Betis, has made just one appearance in Qatar 2026’s follow-up tournament so far, completing 90 minutes in a 4-2 group-stage win over Haiti.

His limited game time reflects the strength of competition in Morocco’s engine room, with Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi widely regarded as one of the most exciting young playmakers in world football. Bouaddi has struck up a strong midfield partnership alongside Roma’s Neil El Aynaoui and Girona’s Azzedine Ounahi.

Morocco reached the last 16 after edging past the Netherlands on penalties, having earlier held Brazil to a 1-1 draw in the group stage. Victory over co-hosts Canada in Houston would set up a potential quarter-final against France, a daunting but not impossible test for Ouahbi’s side.

Whatever happens against Canada, Amrabat’s continued progress on the international stage stands as a pointed response to those who oversaw his exit from Old Trafford.