In the recent Premier League match between Manchester United and Manchester City, Sofyan Amrabat failed to live up to expectations despite his limited opportunities. Manchester United started strong with a goal from Marcus Rashford, but their performance deteriorated as Manchester City scored three consecutive goals in the second half.

Coach Erik ten Hag’s decision to bring Amrabat on as a substitute for Kobbie Mainoo in the 82nd minute proved to be questionable. Amrabat struggled with ball handling, and in the 90+1 minute, a Fiorentina player managed to steal the ball in Manchester United’s own half, creating a dangerous situation.

With the score at 2-1, Manchester United’s hopes of a comeback were shattered when Erling Haaland easily found the net, and Amrabat’s disappointment was evident as his mistake contributed to Manchester United conceding a third goal. Amrabat was expected to be a “Sabitzer 2.0,” surpassing Marcel Sabitzer’s underwhelming performance during his time at Manchester United. However, Sabitzer’s failure to meet expectations last season led to Manchester United’s decision not to sign him permanently.

Coach Erik ten Hag made efforts to revive Amrabat’s game through reforms in the summer of 2023, despite the deal appearing to fall apart at the last moment. Amrabat’s loyalty and patience in waiting for Manchester United to resolve the situation were commendable. Before joining Manchester United, Amrabat had already made an impression with his intense playing style, ball retention skills, and ability to recover the ball. His standout performances at the 2022 World Cup played a significant role in Morocco’s achievement of becoming the first African team to reach the semifinals.

However, the highly competitive Premier League environment posed challenges for Amrabat, and he gradually faded into the background. The British media highlighted his occasional struggles with ball retention, despite his good distribution ability.

Unfortunately, Amrabat’s name is now rarely mentioned at Old Trafford, and there were higher expectations for a player who had excelled on the international stage. Even in the absence of key players like Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, and Mason Mount, Amrabat failed to make significant progress. His poor performance as a substitute against Manchester City further raises doubts about his future with Manchester United.