IT has been revealed that Morocco midfielder Sofyan Amrabat would have joined Manchester United or Barcelona in January if Fiorentina had not blocked the move.
The 26-year-old was in outstanding form for the Atlas Lions as they made history in Qatar last December by becoming the first African team in history to reach the World Cup semi-finals.
His performances, which earned him a place in the Team of the Tournament, attracted interest from across Europe, with heavyweights Manchester United and Barcelona making concrete bids.
Amrabat’s agent Mohamed Sinouh confirmed today that Fiorentina rejected offers from Barcelona and Manchester United in January but he revealed that the Serie A side promised to sell the holding midfielder at the end of the season.
He tried to force his exit from the Stadio Franchi on the deadline day in January, but Fiorentina refused to sell him to Barcelona who had made a loan offer with an obligation to buy.
“We received many offers during the winter transfer window, including one from Manchester United, but we couldn’t finalise the deal,” the midfielder’s agent told Kora Plus.
“Barcelona? Fiorentina’s President refused to sell him at that moment as he represented an added value after what he had done at the World Cup.”
Amrabat’s Fiorentina contract expires in June 2024, but they have an option to extend his stay by one more season.
“We have no proposals for the summer, at least for the moment, but Fiorentina will listen [to offers]. It’s a promise they made after the President refused all offers in the winter transfer window,” Sinouh added.
Amrabat joined Fiorentina in a €20m deal from Hellas Verona in 2020 and has made 96 appearances across all competitions for the club.
