Man United and Arsenal target Sofyan Amrabat claims ‘it would be nice to play in the Premier League’
Manchester United and Arsenal target Sofyan Amrabat claims ‘it would be nice to play in the Premier League’ as he fuels transfer speculation by claiming English football ‘could suit him’
- Fiorentina star Sofyan Amrabat rose to fame during the World Cup with Morocco
- The midfielder is set to face West Ham in the Europa Conference League final
- He is associated with top clubs such as Manchester United, Barcelona and Arsenal
Fiorentina star Sofyan Amrabat has fueled speculation he could move to a top English club this summer, claiming that ‘it would be nice to play in the Premier League’.
Amrabat rose to prominence late last year when he was a key part of Morocco’s memorable run to the semi-finals of the World Cup, as they became the first African side ever to reach the final four of the tournament and played every minute in Qatar.
Widely regarded as one of the breakaway stars of the World Cup, the midfielder has since sparked interest from several top European clubs.
In January, Amrabat was touted for a move to Chelsea and Liverpool and more recently he has been linked with Manchester United, Barcelona and even Arsenal.
The Catalan giants had reportedly drafted him in as an ideal replacement for outgoing Sergio Busquets, who is preparing to leave the club this summer after 15 years and more than 700 appearances.
Sofyan Amrabat has sparked speculation about a move to a top club in the Premier League this summer
The Fiorentina midfielder made fame with Morocco at the World Cup in Qatar last year
However, it has emerged that Manchester United are also keen on him as they see him as a cheaper alternative to another target, Declan Rice, as Erik ten Hag looks to bolster his options in midfield this summer.
Amrabat will face Rice in the Europa Conference League final against West Ham on Wednesday, with the battle between the two dynamic midfielders seen as a key factor in deciding the tie.
And ahead of that mouth-watering clash, the 26-year-old opened the door to a possible move to England.
“Of course the Premier League is a fantastic league, one of the strongest in the world,” said Amrabat.
“It would be nice to play there one day, but it’s not like I just want to go to England, because Spain is beautiful, Serie A is a beautiful league.
“Football has changed a lot, it’s more physical, you need more to be an athlete, the pace and intensity is higher.
“Of course the intensity in England is very high, so I think it could suit me.”
His brother, Nordin – who played for Watford between 2016-2018 and now plies his trade for AEK Athens – increased interest in the midfielder after the World Cup, claiming the top clubs in Europe finally realized how good he was.
“I am really incredibly proud of Sofyan,” he told De Telegraaf in December.
‘When you play so well on such a podium – in three games against countries like Croatia, Belgium and Canada – you have a lot to offer.
He faces West Ham in the Europa Conference League final in Prague on Wednesday, with his midfield fight against Declan Rice likely to be a deciding factor in the game.
Amrabat claimed that ‘it would be nice to play in the Premier League one day’ and felt his style would be a perfect fit for English football.
“I think the top clubs in Europe who have been sleeping have now woken up. In January (2022), Sofyan himself was already in talks with Tottenham Hotspur, but there was no agreement with Fiorentina about the transfer fee.
“I think the interested will be lining up now.”
Fiorentina posed a number of dangers for the Hammers after finishing eighth in Serie A as they pushed Inter Milan all the way to the Coppa Italia final, losing 2-1.
The two teams will face each other at Prague’s Eden Arena – home of Slavia Prague – with kick-off at 8pm.