SOFYAN AMRABAT admits he would love to earn a permanent move to Manchester United next summer.
The Morocco World Cup star has joined on an initial one year loan from Fiorentina – and impressed on his full debut against Crystal Palace on Tuesday.
GettySofyan Amrabat insists he wants to seal a permanent move to Manchester United[/caption]
The 27-year-old revealed he pushed throughout the close season for a move to Old Trafford and finally saw his wish come true on deadline day.
Now he is focussed on helping United win silverware this term – and hopes that will help convince the Red Devils to extend his time with them.
He said: “Of course, I would love to stay here, but I don’t look too far in the future. For me, today, I am a Manchester United player.
“The only thing I can do is give everything that I have, to do my best to try to help the team.
“I hope we have a fantastic season, I hope we can win something, and then later we will see what will happen.”
Amrabat was part of the Fiorentina team who were beaten by West Ham in the Europa Conference League final in June.
And he revealed from then on he was determined to sort out a move – with United his preferred destination.
“After the last game with the club, that was the moment the window started for me.
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“A lot of clubs, a lot of speaking, talking, but for me it was clear I wanted Manchester United.
“They were long, long months for me, very difficult months for me. But in the end it was nice on the last day that I signed here.”
Amrabat arrived in England with a minor back problem but made a brief appearance as a sub in the 1-0 win at Burnley on Saturday.
He then played an hour in the Carabao Cup triumph over the Eagles – surprisingly starting the game at full-back.
Erik ten Hag’s men have had a tricky start to the season but now have a friendly looking run of fixtures and several injured players are coming back.
He said: “I have a lot of confidence because I see that we have so much quality. I think we were a bit unlucky with the injuries we had.
“For every team it’s difficult if you have a lot of injuries. I see a lot of quality, we have a fantastic coach, fantastic fans, so I believe we can do something big.
“But at the end you have to show it on the pitch, not with talking, not with speaking, you have to work for it and hopefully we can reach something very nice.
United regulars were surprised to see him starting at left-back – but he explained it is something ten Hag has asked of him before.
He said: “It was with the manager seven years ago at Utrecht, I was 19, 20 years old and he asked me to play there and I did it, so he knew I could play there.
“But of course I’m a midfielder, I said before to him I play where the team needs me, where he needs me, if it’s left-back it’s left-back.
“I’m fit, but not 100% yet, but it’s normal, I didn’t have a perfect pre-season because of the transfer, but I’m working very hard now to get there.”
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