Manchester United have expressed “considerable frustration” at the Moroccan FA after defender Noussair Mazraoui was forced to miss Monday’s 4-4 draw with Bournemouth.
While United successfully negotiated to keep Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon) and Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast) for the match, Morocco rejected a similar plea.
This came despite a recent FIFA ruling moving the mandatory AFCON release date to December 15.
United believe they were “unfairly treated,” noting that Morocco prioritized a training session over a Premier League fixture.
With Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt injured, Mazraoui’s absence forced Ruben Amorim to start 19-year-old Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro.
A porous defense contributed to the 4-4 draw, leaving United stuck outside the top five.
Italian side Roma and Spain’s Real Betis have reportedly faced similar issues with the Moroccan federation.
All three players—Mazraoui, Mbeumo, and Amad—have now joined their national teams and will be unavailable for Sunday’s trip to Aston Villa.
