Michael Carrick Talked Noussair Mazraoui Out of Leaving Man United. Here’s What Changed.

Noussair Mazraoui isn’t going anywhere. After weeks of speculation linking the Manchester United fullback with a move to AC Milan, the Moroccan international has decided to stay at Old Trafford. The deciding factor? A series of direct conversations with manager Michael Carrick.

Carrick, who took over the United job earlier this year, made it clear to Mazraoui that he’s a central piece of the project going forward. According to journalist Aboujad Soufiane, those talks were enough to convince the 28-year-old to shut down any thoughts of a departure this summer.

That’s not nothing. Mazraoui had been on Milan’s radar, specifically because Ruben Amorim — now managing in Serie A after his own stint at United — wanted to bring him in. Amorim knows the player well. He coached him at Old Trafford, and he rates him highly. But as of now, no formal offer has arrived, and no negotiations between the clubs have started.

Matteo Moretto reported earlier this month that while Amorim admires Mazraoui’s versatility — the guy can play right back, left back, and even center back — there hasn’t been any direct contact between United and Milan. So the whole thing was more of a manager crush than an actual transfer saga, at least for now.

Mazraoui joined United from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2024 and has made 77 appearances since. He’s under contract through 2028 with a club option for an extra year, so United weren’t in a rush to sell. The club also wasn’t eager to lose a defender who can slot in three different spots across the back line. That kind of depth is hard to replace mid-window.

Why the Agent Switch Mattered

There was a moment where it looked like something might be brewing. Mazraoui recently changed agents, moving to Panthera Agency after his previous deal with Pimenta ended. Fabrizio Romano confirmed the switch on July 27. In this business, an agent change often signals a player angling for a move. But Soufiane’s reporting suggests it was simpler than that: his contract with Pimenta just ran out, and he went with a friend at Panthera. No hidden agenda.

Soufiane also noted that Mazraoui has received interest from multiple clubs — some of it sparked by his performances in the last World Cup — but the player has made up his mind. He wants to see this through at United.

Carrick obviously helped. He told Mazraoui he’s one of the key guys for next season. That kind of assurance matters, especially for a player who can start at any of three positions and has to wonder whether he’ll be shuffled around or properly relied upon. Carrick gave him the latter answer.

So for now, the Mazraoui-to-Milan talk is dead. Could it come back in a future window? Sure. Amorim’s not going to forget about a player he trusts. But this summer, United keep their most versatile defender, and Carrick keeps a guy he clearly didn’t want to lose.