Ten Hag questions Man Utd decision to release Morocco midfielder Sofyan Amrabat

Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says the club should have retained Moroccan midfielder Sofyan Amrabat after his loan spell at Old Trafford during the 2023-24 season.

Ten Hag revealed in an interview with The Athletic, published on Wednesday, that he wanted the midfielder to stay permanently but the club’s management decided against the move.

“I wanted to keep Sofyan Amrabat, they didn’t. I think he did a great job at United,” the Dutch coach said.

Amrabat joined United on loan from Fiorentina in September 2023, following his impressive performances for Morocco at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

FA Cup final highlight of Amrabat’s United spell

The Moroccan made 30 appearances across all competitions during his season in England but struggled to establish himself as a regular starter.

One of his most notable performances came in the FA Cup final against Manchester City in May 2024, when Ten Hag selected him ahead of Brazilian midfielder Casemiro.

The decision was intended to provide greater defensive protection in midfield against Pep Guardiola’s side.

Amrabat delivered an assured performance as United defeated their city rivals at Wembley, with goals from Garnacho and Mainoo securing the trophy. Manchester United’s own match coverage also identified the Moroccan as one of the team’s standout performers in the final.

Despite his contribution to the cup triumph, United chose not to extend his stay beyond the loan agreement.

Ten Hag questions United’s midfield decisions

United subsequently signed Uruguayan midfielder Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2024, while Scott McTominay left the club for Napoli during the same transfer window.

In his latest interview, Ten Hag also questioned the decision involving McTominay, saying he believed the club could have kept the midfielder.

The comments offer further insight into Ten Hag’s thinking about United’s squad-building decisions during his time at Old Trafford.

The Dutchman had previously helped Amrabat establish himself as a regular first-team player at FC Utrecht. The Moroccan later described Ten Hag as one of the most influential coaches in his career.

Amrabat returns to Dutch football

After leaving Manchester United, Amrabat continued his career with Fenerbahçe before spending a season on loan at Real Betis.

The 30-year-old returned to Dutch football in August 2026 after joining Ajax on a free transfer, signing a contract until June 2028.

Ten Hag, meanwhile, left Manchester United in October 2024, just months after guiding the club to FA Cup success.