Stopping Mbappe, reducing Ronaldo to tears - the ideal midfielder Manchester United are getting
Put Sofyan Amrabat into Google and chances are you won't have to look too far to see his tackle on Kylian Mbappe in the World Cup.
Amrabat and Morocco had surprised everyone by reaching the semi-finals and setting up a date with the holders. Trailing 1-0, Mbappe skipped away down the left and looked set to race clear into the area. Enter Amrabat, stretching his long limbs he somehow managed to track the PSG forward and produce a lunging tackle that recovered possession.
The midfielder then jumped up and strolled off with the ball. It was an incredible piece of defending, displaying pace, skill and no little heart and desire. Ultimately Mbappe and France made it to the final but Amrabat and Morocco won plenty of plaudits from their run in Qatar.
They dumped out Belgium in the group stage, Spain in the last 16 and Portugal in the quarter-finals, reducing Cristiano Ronaldo to tears. At the heart of the side was Amrabat.
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What United will pay Fiorentina for Amrabat
The new United man ran further than any other player in the tournament (59.3km) and led ball recoveries too (41). He was able to thwart opponents from midfield and can drop into defence. An athlete as well as a footballer, with a past playing for Erik ten Hag in the Netherlands, it's easy to see why the transfer to Manchester United arose.
“I’m 26 and people say these are the best years of a footballer’s career,” Amrabat said earlier this year. “I feel good. I have a lot of experience now. I’ve played in a lot of big games."
United's midfield is in need of a succession plan and the addition of the former FC Utrecht man represents some
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