Manchester United loanee Sofyan Amrabat has given his verdict on the late run of games he has received at the club.
Amrabat has made 28 appearances since joining United on loan from Fiorentina in the summer, with just nine starts coming in the Premier League during a spell that has failed to live up to its billing.
Expectations were high for the midfielder when he arrived at Old Trafford, but his form has been inconsistent, with his starts arriving from a possible 28 games that he has been available for.
It seems his temporary stay won’t be made permanent next season, but he is being given a chance to show his talents in the run-in, starting the Red Devils’ last two games as the season draws to a close.
Speaking after his side’s win over Newcastle on Wednesday evening, Amrabat opened up on his time at the club, and suggested he should have been playing a little earlier.
Manchester United loanee Sofyan Amrabat has opened up on his difficult loan spell at the club
The midfielder has started United’s last two Premier League games, a run he said has come ‘a bit late in the season’
United held talks with Amrabat’s agent this week and are unlikely to make his loan deal permanent
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‘I’m very happy we won today,’ he began. ‘That’s the most important thing, but of course, it’s nice to show yourself, although it’s still not Sofyan Amrabat at the best I can play.
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‘I think it’s my second game now in four or five months that I’ve played 90 minutes, so I’m 100 per cent normal, but I’m happy I played good and the team played good.
‘It’s not been easy because everyone wants to play, I’ve been patient and always ready for the team when they need me, whether for one or 10 minutes, I always give my best.
‘You can just work hard and wait for the chance to come. That chance might have come a bit late in the season, but I’m happy it did.’
Amrabat laughed as he joked his run has come late in the season, but the numbers say he has completed 90 minutes just seven times this campaign.
The Morocco man’s agent has been in Manchester for talks this week, and it seems increasingly unlikely that United will trigger the £21.4m option to sign him permanently, having already paid £8.5m to have him on loan this season.
Amrabat was one of United’s better players in the defeat to Arsenal on Sunday but it was only his 14th start of a season in which he has also filled in as an emergency left-back.
The 27-year-old former Feyenoord and Utrecht player is attracting offers from Saudi Arabia, and could move there at the end of the season.
His run, which has seen him start and impress against both Newcastle and Arsenal, has been somewhat aided by United’s injury crisis, which has seen fellow midfielder Casemiro slip into defence to cover.
A number of players are set to leave the club, with Wayne Rooney calling for the Red Devils to build their side around Bruno Fernandes (pictured)
Rooney (pictured) urged his former side to undertake ‘a massive clear out’ to improve their fortunes
United legend Wayne Rooney launched a ruthless attack on his former side’s players on Wednesday, urging the club to be rid of a number of the stars that he feels have contributed to a disappointing season.
Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: ‘You have to build the team around Bruno. He’s quality and has got fight in him, and then I think all the other players get rid of them.’
‘I think you keep the young players, and you keep Bruno. I think it has to be a massive clear out. It has to be. It’s not going to be in one year, but I think it’s going to be in the next couple of years.’
