Sources say Manchester United were furious with Morocco for blocking Nouser Mazraoui from playing against Bournemouth on Monday.
Manchester United escalate Mazraoui complaint to FIFA
The 28-year-old has been called up by the hosts for the African Cup of Nations, which begins against Comoros on December 21st, with FIFA recently confirming that his release period will start from December 15th.
That night, United hosted Bournemouth, but were unable to call up Mazraoui in a chaotic 4-4 draw as the Royal Moroccan Football Federation refused to allow the versatile defender to play.
0 key passes, 0 dribbles: Amorim must be a bad guy for Manchester United like Hojlund
Manchester United had an exciting game at Old Trafford on Monday night.
Sources said the matter was escalated to FIFA and Ruben Amorim and others left disappointed and feeling unfairly penalized by the schedule.
United’s manager had expected Mazraoui to be available, having trained with his teammates before his departure on Sunday.
Brian Mbeumo and Amad Diallo were available to play against Bournemouth after United held productive negotiations with the federations of Cameroon and Ivory Coast respectively.
Bruno Fernandes says Manchester United ‘wanted me to leave’
Captain Bruno Fernandes insisted that “the club wanted me to go” when Al Hilal made a big-money move to sign him in the summer.
The Saudi club offered up to £700,000 a week for the Portugal international and were reportedly willing to pay £100m for the 31-year-old midfielder, but Fernandes ended up remaining at Old Trafford following talks with Amorim.
In an interview with Canal 11, a channel run by the Portuguese Football Federation, Fernandes said he felt United’s executives were keen to make money.
“I could have left during this transfer window and I would have made more money. I would have left a season ago and we would have won a lot of trophies this season, but I decided not to go, not just for family reasons but because I really love the club.”
“From the club I felt, ‘If you leave, it’s not so bad for us.’ It hurts me a little bit. More than hurts me, it makes me sad. I’m a player that no one can criticize, I’m always ready and I always do my best…
“I don’t see this as a money issue. There is a big difference with Saudi Arabia, but financially I can’t complain.
“If I ever go to Saudi Arabia to play, I will. It won’t be for the money. I will go because it will change my lifestyle. After six years of cold and rain in Manchester, my children’s lives will be sunny, because I will be playing in a growing league.”
“We had the same passion and empathy for the club, but we reached a point where money was more important to them than you. The club wanted me to leave. I told the managers that. I think they didn’t have the courage to make that decision because the manager wanted me.”
“But even if the manager wanted me to stay, if I had said I wanted to leave, the club would have let me.”
