Read Amrabat's Fans' Q&A in full

Friday 29 March 2024 10:00

Sofyan Amrabat is the latest Manchester United player to take part in our Fans' Q&A series, sponsored by Melitta.

The Morocco international describes what performing so well at the last World Cup meant to him and is asked about that famous tackle on France superstar Kylian Mbappe that went viral on social media.

He reveals his favourite food, tells us what goes in to the 'Sofyan Amrabat pizza' in Florence and explains how his elder brother Nordin has been such a big influence.

Check out everything the midfielder had to say, and thank you to everybody who contributed questions...

Fans' Q&A: Sofyan Amrabat Video

Fans' Q&A: Sofyan Amrabat

Sofyan discusses his tackle on Mbappe, the Amrabat pizza and the best player he's ever faced...

Jesse M. (South Africa): What did performing so well at the World Cup mean to you, to Morocco and Africa in general? “Well, Jesse, thank you for your question. Of course, it was something amazing. I never feel like this. It was so nice to see the joy that we gave to the people, all men, women. Everybody enjoyed it. So I think this is the best feeling, an amazing feeling, you can give, especially people from Morocco. But also from Africa and the Arabic world, to be proud. It was the best feeling.”

Mark L. (UK): What went through your mind when you made that brilliant recovery run and tackle on Kylian Mbappe?
“Yeah, during the game, not too much because you are focused and you are concentrated on the game and you are, at the moment, 1-0 down. So we tried everything to make a goal or to try to come back in the game. But, later on, when I saw all the people talking and speaking about it, of course, it was a nice moment. But, at the end of the day, the most important thing is the team and we were so near to the final. So then you want to play the final. Like I said, at the end of the day, it’s the team that is the most important.”

Andre C. (Canada): How are you finding life in England?
“I like it. Of course, the weather is well, not top, but I’m used to it because I was born in Holland. Life in the UK is nice. The people are very nice and Manchester is a fantastic city so I like it.”

Andriy O. (Ukraine): What were your thoughts before your debut game at Old Trafford? What was going through your mind?
“Yeah, of course, everybody knows that Old Trafford is a fantastic stadium but, before the game, I didn’t know how it feels to play there at Old Trafford. The moment I started warming up and I looked around, I saw the stadium and our amazing fans and the feeling is, still every week, playing at home every two weeks, is a special feeling. Very special. Every time again.”

Archie N. (UK): What is your favourite food?
“Archie, my favourite good is the Moroccan kitchen. We have a lot of nice things. We have tagine and very good chicken, very good meat and fish. With a lot of specialities, the food is amazing.”

Ashton J. (USA): What is your favourite movie/TV series?
“Oh, I don’t have a favourite movie but I saw some very good TV series, like Prison Break, Homeland, Bodyguard and Queen of the South. A lot of nice ones, I saw a lot of nice things. I try not to watch too much TV, it’s not good so you just want to watch one or two episodes per day.”

Holly T. (UK): Who are you closest to in the United squad?
“Thank you Holly for the question. We are very, very good with each other. We are a strong team. The atmosphere is very good and we are like a family. So I am good with everybody.”

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Jiratawat J. (Thailand): What do you feel when your brother Nordin played in Premier League back in the day?
“Hello, Jiratawat. Of course, my brother came to England to play here. I watched all his games, like I always do. Especially from that moment because I’ve also been in the stadiums. I saw most of the games in the stadium. From that moment, I also really wanted to play here one day.”

Yves P. (France): Did you brother Nordin offer you advice on the Premier League and do you speak to him regularly about each other’s progress?
“Hello Yves. Yes, of course, we have a very good relationship together with each other. I have good relations with him so we speak about everything but, of course, most of the time it’s about football because we play football. We love it and, of course, it’s very important for me. He always tries to help me and I tried to help him. I think it’s normal when you are brothers.”

Leslie J. (Germany): Was the period in your Dutch academy imperative to your future career?
“It was also very important because I think all of the academies in Holland are very good. Everybody knows the orign of it from there, the good football from the back. So I learned a lot there. This was a very important time for me.”

Mike Bassey (UK): Who was your go-to ideal footballer when growing up?
“Hi Mike, to be honest, I didn’t really have an idol as, like I said, my brother is 10 years older than me so I always watched my brother. So, for me, it was him who was my example.”

Carlo L. (Italy): You played and lived in Italy so what’s your favourite pizza topping?
“Good question, Carlo! I had in Florence, where I lived for three years, I had a Moroccan-Italian friend and he had a pizzeria. He made a special Sofyan Amrabat pizza because I like to put a lot of things on it and mix a lot of things. So it was not a typical Italian pizza. It had tuna, leaves, onions, with pepperoni. So it was a mix of a lot of things. Yes, it’s still on his cart [menu].”

Kagembe K. (Uganda): Who is your favourite all-time midfielder and why?
“Hello, Kagembe, it’s a difficult question but I think it’s clear, players like [Zinedine] Zidane, Xavi. I think Paul Scholes was also very good at Manchester United. Roy Keane. I think that kind of player, of course. I also like Yaya Toure. Yes, he played for City but he was also a fantastic midfielder. They won trophies but they were just very good and very important for the teams where they played.”

Maurice T. (Scotland): Why did you choose the number four? Is there a reason behind it?
“No, no special reason. I have played with the number four for the national team and it was here, it was free, so that was why.”

Yassine E. (France): What do you do in your free time?
“Of course, we have quite a lot of free time but you’re always busy with football and you try to get better with the extra training and then to recover well, to get the right food. So I think it’s very important. So yeah, I’m 24/7 busy with football.”

London Calling

 #quiz

Ahead of our away game v Chelsea, can you score 8/10 or more in our capital-themed quiz? 💂🎡🚇

Hattie C. (Australia): Who is the best player you’ve ever faced?
“I think Cristiano Ronaldo. I’d say Cristiano Ronaldo.”

Chris T. (UK): Which United player of the past would you most like to play alongside?
“Wayne Rooney. Also Robin van Persie but I played with him at Feyenoord for one year. There are a lot of very good players.”

George H. (UK): What do think about Morocco co-hosting the World Cup in 2030?
“It’s very exciting. I think the people will enjoy Morocco. Everything – the food, the weather, the stadiums they’re building. We have already now amazing stadiums but they are building new ones. The hotels, I think Morocco is a fantastic country. So the people are going to enjoy it, for sure.”

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