Manchester United are finalising a deal to sign right-back Noussair Mazraoui, a transfer that will reunite the Morocco international with manager Erik ten Hag.
Dutch-born Mazraoui spent 16 years at Ajax in total, making 137 first-team appearances under Ten Hag – that included 48 during the Amsterdam club’s incredible 2018/19 campaign in which they were no more than a kick away from reaching the Champions League final.
To make way for Mazraoui, United have offloaded Aaron Wan-Bissaka. The move hinged on that happening and the former Crystal Palace man will start afresh back in London at West Ham United.
Mazraoui is a right-back by trade and will primarily compete with Diogo Dalot. But both players are versatile enough that they can operate on the left, which has proven to be a weak spot.
As a player so versatile – he played almost everywhere during his days as with Ajax’s junior sides – Mazraoui has worn more than his fair share of different shirt numbers over the past decade.
At first-team level it has been a lot calmer. The defender made the senior breakthrough at Ajax during the 2017/18 season wearing 40 on his back. The following campaign, he traded down to 12 and kept that shirt for the remainder of his time at the club.
But when he made the switch to Bayern Munich in 2022, Mazraoui sought familiarity and opted for 40 again, even though many lower numbers – including 12 – were available.
At international level with Morocco, Mazraoui has almost exclusively worn 3.
Neither 40, nor 12, are immediately available at Old Trafford. Tyrell Malacia currently has the latter, while the 40 shirt is occupied by young goalkeeper Radek Vitek, who impressed in a friendly last month. However, it could be made available as the Czech stopper is reported to be heading on loan, having spent the first half of 2024 with Accrington Stanley. Nothing has been made official as yet.
If Vitek’s shirt isn’t vacated, Mazraoui could look to another familiar number, 3, which is available after last being worn by Eric Bailly. The number 4 shirt is also available but is a more likely choice for compatriot Matthijs de Ligt as he prepares to make the same move from Munich to Manchester.
An alternative could be 34. Mazraoui is only a few months younger than former Ajax academy player Abdelhak Nouri, who suffered permanent brain damage after collapsing on the pitch during a friendly in 2017. Many of his contemporaries have worn 34, Nouri’s shirt, at various clubs in tribute – including Donny van de Beek at United, until his recent departure to Girona.
United’s other vacant numbers are 13, 19, 27, 30, 31, 33, 38 and 42.
