Man United are preparing for a busy winter, but Ruben Amorim has no intention of losing his African stars earlier than necessary.
The Portuguese manager is quietly plotting a plan to delay the departures of Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and Noussair Mazraoui ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations—hoping to keep their influence intact for as long as the regulations will allow.
Under Amorim’s guidance, United have discovered a rhythm that had long deserted them.
Mbeumo and Amad, in particular, have been instrumental in lifting the mood around Old Trafford, and the club knows from experience that negotiations with national teams can sometimes bend the calendar.
Last season, André Onana joined Cameroon just a day before their opening AFCON match, missing only a single club fixture—an FA Cup tie against Newport County.
Replicating that scenario may be difficult, but Amorim made it clear in his Friday press conference that he intends to try.
“We have the rules for when we have to release the players [but] we are trying to have the players a bit longer,” Amorim said. “It is not just in our hands. We will see. We will try to arrange something with the federations.”
Man United’s Hidden Strategy to Keep Their Stars Longer
The effort to hold onto the trio carries significant weight, especially given how important they’ve become to United’s recent resurgence.
Mbeumo’s encouraging start at Old Trafford has offered supporters a welcome break from the turbulence of the past year.
The upheaval that followed Erik ten Hag’s dismissal lingered well into the early months of Amorim’s tenure, but the manager’s ideas are finally beginning to settle in.
Performances have sharpened, patterns of play are clearer, and the team’s attacking threat has grown with Mbeumo leading the line.
On the right, Amad Diallo has thrived after being redeployed as a wing-back, adding creativity and energy. Mazraoui, though hampered by injury, remains a versatile figure whose value extends beyond mere minutes on the pitch.
Preparing for the inevitable absences, Amorim outlined the club’s broader plan: “It is a concern but we already knew. There is an opportunity for other players.
We have also the under-21s. We need to send a message in that time so we will see. But of course it is not ideal because they are so important in our team and we don’t have a long squad but again, our academy is for these moments and they will be ready.”
Fortunately for United, the winter schedule offers a small blessing: the club’s only focus during that period is the Premier League.
With no European commitments and an early exit from the Carabao Cup, Amorim will not be stretched across multiple fronts until the FA Cup begins in January.
Still, the looming AFCON shadows every discussion at Carrington. And as the tournament draws near, United know that every extra day with their key players could make all the difference.
