On 1 November 2024, Manchester United appointed Rúben Amorim as the club's new head coach following the dismissal of Erik ten Hag.

Having earned widespread acclaim for his work at Sporting CP, including an impressive UEFA Champions League campaign, Amorim arrived at Old Trafford with the task of restoring United to their former heights after years of instability following Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement.

The appointment, however, failed to deliver the desired turnaround. Results continued to deteriorate throughout his tenure, and Amorim ultimately finished with the lowest win percentage of any permanent Manchester United manager in the Premier League era.

After 14 difficult months in charge, his reign came to an end. A fiery post-match press conference following a 1–1 draw with Leeds United in January 2026 proved to be the final straw, with INEOS opting to dismiss the Portuguese coach. Former midfielder Michael Carrick was subsequently appointed as head coach for the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign.

Carrick's influence was immediate. Moving away from Amorim's rigid 3-4-3 system in favour of a more familiar 4-2-3-1 formation, he restored players to their natural positions and quickly revitalised the squad. From January through to the end of the season, Manchester United amassed more Premier League points than any other side, completing one of the most remarkable mid-season turnarounds in the competition's history.

After already giving the green light to pursue Mason Mount, Amorim could be set to target another United star to help with his major AC Milan rebuild after the Italian giants missed out on Champions League football.

Speaking on Fabrizio Romano's YouTube channel, Italian journalist Matteo Moretto said that Noussair Mazraoui is a player Amorim is targeting at Milan.

According to the journalist, there are no talks taking place between Manchester United and the Italian outfit, but the 28-year-old is appreciated by the Portuguese manager.

It remains to be seen if Mazraoui will become a player that the clubs negotiate over as the transfer window progresses, but expect business to ramp up after the conclusion of the World Cup

Patrick Dorgu's emergence as a left-wing option and Harry Amass' injury towards the end of last season made it seem likely that Manchester United would target a new left-back this summer, with Newcastle's Lewis Hall among the players linked. However, Noussair Mazraoui's recent displays for Morocco could force Michael Carrick to reconsider those plans.

With Achraf Hakimi established at right-back, Mazraoui was deployed on the left for Morocco, operating as a defensive full-back who tucks into a back three, which allowed Hakimi to push forward. Despite playing out of position against top opposition, including Brazil and the Netherlands, the 28-year-old looked comfortable and consistent.

Carrick is expected to use a similar 3-2-5 structure in possession at United, with one full-back moving into the centre-back line alongside the centre-backs. Unlike Luke Shaw and Harry Amass, who are naturally more attacking, Mazraoui's defensive profile gives Carrick greater tactical flexibility.

His ability to switch which full-back attacks depending on the opposition offers United an extra layer of unpredictability. If Mazraoui continues to impress, Carrick may decide that his existing options are sufficient, reducing the need to prioritise a new left-back in the transfer market.