Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui has revealed the huge impact that both former Bayern Munich teammate Thomas Muller and ex-Ajax ace Hakim Ziyech had on him.
Noussair Mazraoui crossed paths with Hakim Ziyech first as a club teammate after sharing the pitch with him at Dutch side Ajax and both played under Erik ten Hag.
The 28-year-old Morocco international’s time at Ajax ended in 2022 and Mazraoui left the Johan Cruyff Arena and completed his switch to Bayern Munich.
Bayern Munich signed Mazraoui on a free transfer and the Manchester United star would share the pitch with Germany and Bavarians legend Thomas Muller.
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Man Utd star Noussair Mazraoui singles out the importance of former Ajax teammate Hakim Ziyech
Hakim Ziyech was linked with Manchester United in the past and the 32-year-old Dutch-born winger is currently signed with Botola Pro outfit Wydad AC.
The former Ajax winger left the Johan Cruyff Arena ahead of Noussair Mazraoui’s 2022 exit, with Chelsea signing Ziyech for a reported £33.3m transfer fee in 2020.
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Speaking to United Review, Mazraoui revealed that his time with Morocco teammate Ziyech at club level and on the international stage had a real impact on him.
“I think also Hakim Ziyech because I’ve played for three, four years with him, so that’s a really long time,” he said, as per Manchester United’s official website.
Ziyech lifted the Champions League trophy with Chelsea before the former Ajax star left the Premier League club and signed for Super Lig side Galatasaray in 2023.
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Why Noussair Mazraoui would put Thomas Muller ahead of Hakim Ziyech for major influences on his playing career
Mazraoui arrived at Bayern Munich in the same transfer window as former Ajax teammate Matthijs de Ligt and would make 55 appearances for the German side.
The United full-back admitted that his spell at the Allianz Arena saw Thomas Muller have a major impact on him, despite his limited time at the Bundesliga outfit.
“And I think my time in Germany was maybe too short, but if I have to say somebody there, I think it’s Thomas Muller,” Mazraoui added.
“He’s a legendary guy, of course, a legendary player. So yeah, these two.”
Both Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt would leave Bayern in the same transfer window in 2024 and the pair were reunited with former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag at Man Utd.
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