Manchester United might be about to make a move that solves a problem for two managers at once. The Red Devils are reportedly working on bringing in Nottingham Forest full-back Neco Williams, and that could finally unlock Noussair Mazraoui’s exit to AC Milan.
According to Italian outlet Sportmediaset, Milan has opened talks with Mazraoui’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta. The Moroccan international, who turns 29 this November, checks a lot of boxes for new Milan boss Ruben Amorim. He knows what Mazraoui can do from their time together at United. He also needs versatile defenders for that 3-4-3 system he’s trying to install at the San Siro.
The problem is Milan hasn’t actually spoken to United yet. And the club might not let Mazraoui go until they have a replacement lined up.
The Neco Williams connection
That’s where the Welshman comes in. Sportmediaset reports that United is deep in negotiations for Williams, a 25-year-old product of Liverpool’s academy who now plays for Forest. He’s 6 feet tall, noticeably faster than Mazraoui, and almost as flexible positionally. While Williams is primarily a left-back, he logged 12 appearances on the right side across all competitions last season. That kind of versatility fits what United needs on the backline.
A separate report from earlier this summer suggested Williams is open to the move. Going from Forest to United is a step up, even if he’d be walking into a squad that’s still sorting itself out under new management.
What this means for Mazraoui
Mazraoui was one of Morocco’s best players at the 2022 World Cup, lining up all across the defense as they made that historic run to the semifinals. He’s got less than two years left on his United contract, so this summer is probably the last window where the club can get a decent fee for him. Milan sees him as a priority target. Amorim clearly wants him. But none of that matters if United can’t finalize the Williams deal first.
The interesting part is how quickly this could move. Williams has Premier League experience and wouldn’t need time to adjust to the league’s pace. If United can get that deal done soon, Mazraoui’s path to Milan opens up fast. Then it’s just a matter of whether the two clubs can agree on a price tag. Milan hasn’t submitted a formal bid yet, but that scouting work is already done.
(Featured image by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
Leave a Comment