According to reports in England, Manchester United have decided they will not take up the option to buy Sofyan Amrabat, so he returns to Fiorentina. The Morocco international had pushed hard for the transfer to Old Trafford all summer and it was finally completed on September 1, 2023. It was a loan move for one season at a cost of €9m, with option to buy for a further €20m plus another €5m in add-ons. The negotiations dragged on for a long time precisely because the Viola wanted protection in case Manchester United failed to make the move permanent. This is also why the cost of the loan was a massive €9m and Amrabat also signed a new contract with Fiorentina.
Now the Manchester Evening News reports that he is heading back to Florence, although he is unlikely to remain there, having burned his bridges with the local supporters. Amrabat made just 12 Premier League appearances for Manchester United, five in the Champions League and two in the EFL Cup. Fiorentina had purchased him from Hellas Verona in January 2020 for €19.5m, leaving him at the Stadio Bentegodi on loan for another six months.