Noussair Mazraoui has said his move to Manchester United is the fulfilment of a dream come true and has opened up on the sacrifices he has made to reach the Premier League.
The Morocco international signed for Manchester United from Bayern Munich in the summer and has made a solid start to his career in English football.
A £12.8m recruit from the Bundesliga, Mazraoui has reunited with Erik ten Hag after breaking through at Ajax under the Dutchman’s management. Mazraoui has revealed his long-standing dream to play in the Premier League and believes the transfer is evident his sacrifices are worthwhile.
“These moments were the moments that you know why you work, every day, so hard,” he said to the club’s official website when discussing the transfer.
“That is why you stand up. That is why you take on that extra, extra work. That is why you go to sleep early. Why you don’t go out. Why you don’t go out with your friends or why you don’t have that pizza you really want to have the day before the game! But it’s all worth it in the end.
“I knew I would eventually want to play in the Premier League. But to be able to play for this big club, it’s only a dream that I could never dream of. So it was not something I had already in my mind but, like I said, it’s every step. Every step for me was already a step of success and step of being proud and a step of knowing I have made another step in my career. And now Manchester United is one big step in that way.”
Mazraoui has impressed with his comfort in possession and versatility at Old Trafford and believes his formative years spent in different positions have benefitted his progress.
Mazraoui says versatility has benefitted game
“Yeah, I was a midfielder and then, for the second team, I played one season in every position,” he recalled of his time at Ajax.
“From left-winger to central defender in the next game. So I’ve played everywhere and that is what really helped me now.
“Wherever I come onto the pitch, I feel comfortable. I don’t feel like ‘what do I have to do over here?’ I just know what to do with it because I’ve played already in every position so that really helped me a lot.”
