Ruben Amorim Targets Noussair Mazraoui for Milan Rebuild

Ruben Amorim has barely settled into his new office at Milanello, yet his gaze is already drifting back towards Old Trafford.

The Portuguese coach, appointed last month to succeed Massimiliano Allegri, has made no secret inside the club of where he believes Milan’s next leap in quality might come from: a raid on his former employers and, in particular, on a defender he trusts implicitly.

Amorim’s Milan rebuild starts in Manchester

Per reports in Italy, Amorim has told the Milan hierarchy that Noussair Mazraoui is high on his wish list. Not just as a name on a scouting sheet, but as a player he knows, rates and believes can anchor a new defensive structure at San Siro.

Mazraoui’s profile explains the attraction. Since his £17m move from Bayern Munich to Manchester United in 2024, the Morocco international has racked up 77 appearances for the Red Devils. He has become a key squad piece because of his ability to operate across the backline, a modern full-back comfortable stepping inside, pushing high or locking down his flank one-on-one.

For a coach like Amorim, who demands tactical flexibility from his defenders, that versatility is gold.

Transfer expert Matteo Moretto underlined the depth of that admiration on Fabrizio Romano’s YouTube channel, stressing that Mazraoui is “one of Amorim’s favourites” and “highly regarded” by the new Milan boss. At 28, with a contract running to 2028 and an option attached, Mazraoui is not a short-term fix; he is the kind of cornerstone signing a coach can build around.

There is, however, a catch. For now, it is all approval and no action.

Moretto was clear: there are currently no negotiations underway, no direct contact between Milan and United. Amorim’s green light is there. The formal talks are not. Milan may circle later in the window, but at this stage the interest is managerial rather than institutional.

Targets blocked and plans reshaped

Mazraoui is not the only familiar face Amorim has considered bringing to Italy. His initial blueprint leaned heavily on players he has already shaped.

Manuel Ugarte, whom Amorim coached at Sporting CP before taking him to Manchester, was at one point a leading target. That idea collapsed when the midfielder suffered a serious injury during the World Cup, effectively ruling out a summer move and forcing Milan to rethink their midfield plans.

Other potential routes back into the United dressing room are closing as well. Reports in England indicate United are not prepared to listen to offers for Mason Mount or Amad. Both are viewed as non-negotiable pieces of their own project, removing two more names from Amorim’s list.

So the focus sharpens. If Milan are to prise anyone away from Old Trafford, Mazraoui looks the most realistic – or perhaps the least unrealistic – option.

A defender the coach has already crowned

The interest in the Moroccan does not come out of nowhere. During his spell at United, Amorim repeatedly highlighted Mazraoui’s importance in public.

Shortly after taking the Old Trafford job, he delivered a glowing assessment that still rings loudly now he is in Milan colours.

“He’s a top player. He understands the game. He knows how to attack, he’s very technical, he’s very good defensively and he’s very good one-on-one. He’s a modern player. I think he’s the future of our team,” Amorim said at the time, going on to praise Mazraoui’s ability to control the tempo and his comfort on the ball.

Those are not the kind of comments a coach tosses away lightly. When that same coach then walks into a new club and asks for the same player, the line between past praise and present intent becomes very thin.

For Milan, that profile fits a pressing need. They require defenders who can cope in space, initiate attacks and adapt to different shapes. For Amorim, Mazraoui is already a proven fit in that system.

The obstacle is United’s stance and the defender’s contract. A 28-year-old, locked in until 2028 with an option, and valued by his current club, will not come cheap or easily.

Lessons from England, a new edge in Milan

Behind the transfer noise sits a coach determined not to repeat old mistakes.

Amorim arrives at San Siro with the scars of a difficult 14-month spell in the Premier League still fresh. At his Milan unveiling, he did not pretend otherwise. He admitted that his time in England forced him to rethink aspects of his approach, even if he stopped short of detailing every misstep.

“The first thing is it’s hard to explain the mistakes because for that I would have to explain the context of the last adventure,” he said. “It’s hard to say to you every mistake. The only thing I can say is that I learned a lot and I made some mistakes.”

That admission matters. It hints at a coach willing to evolve, to adjust his ideas to a new league and a new dressing room. It also explains, in part, why he is so keen on players he already understands. In a high-pressure rebuild at a club like Milan, trusted lieutenants can accelerate the transition.

Mazraoui fits that bill perfectly. So did Ugarte, before injury intervened. Mount and Amad would have, if United had been prepared to negotiate.

For now, Milan wait. Amorim has delivered his verdict on the player he wants. United have yet to open the door. The window is long, and the market has a habit of shifting without warning.

If that door does move even slightly, Milan and their new coach will be ready to push.