Rúben Amorim Targets Noussair Mazraoui for Milan Rebuild
Rúben Amorim has barely settled into his new office at Milanello, but his gaze is already drifting back towards Manchester.
The Portuguese coach, appointed last month to replace Massimiliano Allegri, is pushing to reshape Milan in his own image. To do it, he is prepared to raid his former club for one of the players he trusts most: Noussair Mazraoui.
Amorim’s Milan rebuild starts in Manchester
According to reports in Italy, relayed by Metro Sport, Amorim has told the Milan hierarchy in clear terms that he admires Mazraoui and wants him on his list of defensive priorities. The Morocco international has quietly become a key figure at Old Trafford since arriving from Bayern Munich in 2024 for £17 million, making 77 appearances and offering something every modern coach craves — versatility.
Right-back, left-back, tucked inside as an auxiliary midfielder, or shuttling across a back three: Mazraoui has done it all for United. That flexibility has turned him into a vital squad member, and it is exactly the kind of profile Amorim leans on to build his systems.
The problem? Milan are not the only ones who value him.
United dig in as Milan hit early resistance
Amorim’s wish list is ambitious, but the market is already pushing back. Milan’s initial blueprint involved multiple moves for players he knows and trusts from previous jobs. Some of those plans have already hit a wall.
Manuel Ugarte, whom Amorim coached at Sporting CP and then took with him to Manchester, had been a leading target for the Rossoneri midfield. That idea collapsed when a serious injury at the World Cup ended any prospect of a deal this summer. A cornerstone of the project vanished in a single moment.
The road is no smoother elsewhere in United’s squad. The Premier League club are described as unwilling to listen to offers for Mason Mount or Amad, two players Milan had monitored but now have to strike from the board. United, bruised by recent seasons, are in no mood to dismantle what they see as their core.
So the focus narrows back to Mazraoui.
Mazraoui: the favourite, but not yet on the move
Transfer expert Matteo Moretto has underlined just how highly Amorim rates the 28-year-old defender. Speaking on Fabrizio Romano’s YouTube channel, Moretto described Mazraoui as “one of Amorim’s favourites” and stressed that the admiration is long-standing, not a sudden whim driven by a new job.
Crucially, though, this is still a story in its early chapters. Moretto was clear: there are currently no negotiations between Milan and United, no direct contact at club level. Mazraoui remains under contract until 2028, with an option attached, a deal that puts United in a position of strength if and when Milan decide to test their resolve.
For now, what exists is manager approval and a clear target on Amorim’s board. Whether that turns into a formal bid later in the window depends on how Milan’s market unfolds — and how hard United are prepared to fight to keep a player who has become so useful across their back line.
Old Trafford admiration, San Siro ambition
Amorim’s pursuit of Mazraoui is not built on vague scouting reports. It comes from first-hand experience and a public track record of praise.
During his time at Old Trafford, the Portuguese coach repeatedly highlighted Mazraoui’s blend of technique and intelligence. Shortly after taking over at United, he openly lauded the defender’s complete profile: a player who understands the game, attacks with quality, defends one-on-one, and stays comfortable on the ball under pressure. A “modern player,” in Amorim’s words, and someone he once described as the future of United’s team.
Those are not the kind of comments a coach forgets when he switches clubs. At Milan, where the back line needs both renewal and reliability, it is no surprise that Mazraoui has reappeared at the top of his plans.
A coach chasing evolution, not a repeat
Behind the transfer noise sits a deeper story: Amorim’s own reset.
His 14-month spell in the Premier League ended in disappointment and scrutiny. At his Milan unveiling, he did not dodge that reality. He spoke of mistakes, of a context in England that he did not fully unpack, and of lessons learned the hard way. The details stayed behind closed doors, but the message was clear — he cannot afford to repeat the same errors at San Siro.
That mindset feeds directly into his transfer thinking. Familiar players, trusted profiles, footballers who already understand his demands and his tactical language: they reduce risk. Mazraoui fits that category perfectly.
Whether Milan can prise him away from Old Trafford is another matter. United hold the contract, the minutes, and a player who has grown into a crucial utility option. Milan hold the coach who believes Mazraoui can anchor a new defensive era at San Siro.
At some point this summer, one of those forces will give way.
