Rúben Amorim Eyes Noussair Mazraoui for Milan Rebuild

Rúben Amorim has barely had time to settle 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, is pushing for a familiar face to spearhead his rebuild. According to reports in Italy, relayed by Metro Sport, Amorim has told the Milan hierarchy that Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui is high on his wish list.

Amorim’s favourite

Mazraoui is no fringe option at United. The Morocco international has racked up 77 appearances for the club since his £17 million move from Bayern Munich in 2024, quietly becoming one of the most reliable members of the squad. His appeal is obvious: he can operate anywhere across the backline, offering tactical flexibility that coaches at the top level crave.

Transfer specialist Matteo Moretto underlined just how highly Amorim rates the 28-year-old, speaking on Fabrizio Romano’s YouTube channel.

"Noussair Mazraoui is one of Amorim’s favourites," Moretto said, before cooling any talk of an imminent deal. "As of now there are no negotiations underway, there’s no direct contact between the clubs. But what I can tell you is that certainly Mazraoui, who is 28-years-old and also has a contract expiring in 2028 with an option, is a player highly regarded by Amorim. Let’s see if he is targeted by Milan later in the window. As of today, I’m talking about the manager’s approval of him – Amorim appreciates Mazraoui’s qualities."

So Milan have their man in mind. They do not yet have him in their dressing room.

Targets blocked at Old Trafford

Mazraoui is not the only United player Amorim admires. His time in Manchester left him with a clear idea of who he trusts, and who could carry his ideas onto the pitch.

The problem? United are not playing along.

The Italian reports suggest Milan have already run into resistance on several fronts. Mason Mount and Amad are both off limits as things stand, with United described as unwilling to entertain offers for either player. For a coach hoping to fast‑track his project by leaning on former pupils, those are heavy doors slammed shut.

The situation around Manuel Ugarte is even more frustrating. Amorim knows the midfielder inside out from their days together at Sporting CP and then at Old Trafford. Ugarte had emerged as a leading summer target for Milan, a ready‑made anchor for Amorim’s system, until a serious injury suffered at the World Cup effectively ended any hope of a move in this window.

With Ugarte sidelined and Mount and Amad ring‑fenced, the focus narrows. If Milan are to raid Old Trafford, Mazraoui is the clearest, perhaps only, realistic avenue.

A defender built in Amorim’s image

Amorim’s admiration for Mazraoui is not new and not subtle. During his spell at United, he spoke openly about the defender’s blend of technique and intelligence, seeing in him a prototype for the modern full-back.

"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 shortly after taking over at Old Trafford.

Those words still echo now that he is in Milan. A coach who prizes control, tempo and clean build-up play sees Mazraoui as a piece that instantly raises the ceiling of his backline.

"When you think about him, you think we need more players like Nous that can control the tempo, they are really, really good and comfortable with the ball. So, Nous, I’m really happy with him," he added back then.

That is the level of endorsement Milan’s recruitment team has in its pocket. What they do not have is an open negotiation.

United hold the cards: a key squad member, a contract running to 2028 with an option, and no urgent financial pressure to sell. For now, Mazraoui remains a target on paper, not a player on a plane.

A coach seeking a reset

Amorim arrives at San Siro carrying the scars of a bruising 14-month spell in the Premier League. His time at United never fully settled, and the end came sooner than he would have imagined when he first walked into Old Trafford.

At his Milan unveiling, he did not try to rewrite that chapter. He acknowledged the mistakes, even if he chose not to dissect them in public.

"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 admitted. "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 learning now shapes his approach in Italy. The push for trusted lieutenants like Mazraoui is part of that evolution. Amorim wants players who already speak his footballing language, who can accelerate the transition from theory on the training ground to execution under the lights at San Siro.

The question is whether Milan can actually deliver those players.

For all the admiration, all the tactical fit and all the history, United have yet to even pick up the phone. If the Rossoneri are serious about putting Mazraoui in red and black, at some point this summer admiration will have to turn into an offer, and Old Trafford will have to decide how much it really values one of Amorim’s favourites.