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Deadline-day signing Sofyan Amrabat says he only ever wanted to join Manchester United and believes Erik ten Hag\u2019s side can \u201cdo something big\u201d this season.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old\u2019s qualities came to the fore during the 2022 World Cup, where his outstanding midfield displays helped Morocco on their historic run to the semi-finals.<\/p>\n
Amrabat was linked with moves aplenty after Qatar and numerous clubs expressed their interest in a player that only wanted to leave Fiorentina this summer for one destination.<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Cwz3IPjNcKe<\/p>\n
The midfielder played under Ten Hag at Utrecht at the start of his career and was determined to link back up with him at United as he wrapped up a long-discussed deal at the start of September.<\/p>\n
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Asked if it was a difficult process waiting to get the move, Amrabat said: \u201cYes, of course.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the last game with the club, it was the Conference League final with West Ham and from that moment, the window started for me.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of clubs, a lot of speaking, talking, but for me it was clear I wanted Manchester United.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was long, long months for me, difficult months for me, but at the end it\u2019s nice on the last day that I signed here and that I\u2019m here is now the most important (thing).\u201d<\/p>\n
United paid 10million euros (\u00a38.6m) to sign Amrabat on loan for the season, with the deal including the option to trigger a permanent move.<\/p>\n
The Serie A will receive a 20m euros (\u00a317.1m) fee and up to 5m euros (\u00a34.3m) in potential add-ons if that option is taken by Ten Hag\u2019s men.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think about that,\u201d Amrabat said of his future beyond this season. \u201cFor me, today, I am a Manchester United player.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe only thing I can do is every day to give everything that I have, to do my best, to try to help the team.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope we have a fantastic season, I hope we can win something and then later we will see what will happen.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, I would love to stay here, but that\u2019s not important for me. I don\u2019t look too far into the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Amrabat spoke as he basked in the afterglow of an impressive first appearance at Old Trafford, where he helped United beat Crystal Palace 3-0 in the Carabao Cup third round.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was fantastic,\u201d he said with a smile. \u201cIt was a dream of mine. Since I was a child I worked for this every day and to be here is a dream, it\u2019s fantastic.\u201d<\/p>\n
After a small injury delayed his debut, Amrabat finally made his bow off the bench in Saturday\u2019s much-needed win at Burnley before making his first start against Palace three days later.<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Cxq_8IcoS6V<\/p>\n
Those back-to-back victories have lifted the mood around Old Trafford after what had been a challenging start to the season on and off the field for absentee-hit United.<\/p>\n
Pressure and scrutiny had grown having lost four of their opening six matches of a season for the first time since 1986, but Amrabat is confident they can kick on and enjoy a successful season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a lot of confidence because I see that we have so much quality,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it was a bit unlucky with the injuries we had. Of course for every team it\u2019s difficult if you have a lot of injuries.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I see a lot of quality, we have a fantastic coach, we have fantastic fans, so I believe that we can do something big.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut at the end you have to show it on the pitch, not with talking, not with speaking, you have to work for it and hopefully we can reach something very nice.\u201d<\/p>\n
United won the Carabao Cup in their first season under Ten Hag, who described Amrabat as a \u201cwarrior\u201d on Tuesday as he started as makeshift left-back due to a string of absentees.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst of all, when I make a step on the pitch, for me it\u2019s normal that you give everything, that you fight for every metre and give your all for the team,\u201d the Morocco international added.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course you can make technical mistakes, everyone can have a bad game, but I think \u2013 at the end \u2013 most importantly, you fight for the badge, for the club and that\u2019s the minimum you can do.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think, for me, that\u2019s normal and that\u2019s what I try always.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe manager knows me very well, a long time \u2013 maybe seven years ago that we worked together, so it\u2019s a long time.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut he knows me, I know him, I know what he wants and I try to do that at the best (level).\u201d<\/p>\n