Manchester United have postponed Noussair Mazraoui’s return to first team training, granting the Morocco defender extra recovery time after the defeat in the Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal, a decision that keeps him out longer than several teammates already reintegrated into the squad.
The club has put in place an individualised reintegration plan for Mazraoui, allowing a phased physical and mental recovery following an extended and demanding tournament that ran into the final as Morocco hosted the competition, according to people familiar with the process.
United have been without several senior players since late December because of the continental tournament, but Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo have already returned after exiting at the quarter final stage. Both featured prominently in the 2 0 win over Manchester City, where their early availability helped address attacking shortages caused by the AFCON absences.
Mazraoui’s situation differs because Morocco’s run to the final significantly extended his workload and delayed his return to England, placing him outside the normal reintegration timeline applied to players eliminated earlier.
Club officials view the final defeat and the accumulated minutes as a combined physical and emotional load, prompting a more cautious approach aimed at ensuring Mazraoui is fully fit and mentally ready before rejoining competitive action for the remainder of the season.
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