The tournament has unexpectedly offered a solution to Carrick’s transfer priority at Old Trafford through a player already at the club.
Noussair Mazraoui has shaken off a rough spell at Manchester United last season to emerge as Morocco’s dependable figure in this World Cup. He has not recorded a poor performance at the tournament, a notable achievement given the level of competition faced. Crucially, Mazraoui is performing in a position that isn’t his natural role. With Achraf Hakimi occupying the right-back spot for Morocco, Mazraoui operates as a defensive left-back, tasked with tucking inside to form a back three when Morocco are in possession. This arrangement allows Hakimi to advance in attack while Mazraoui stabilizes the defense and circulates possession with his technical quality.
Mazraoui’s excellence in this role calls for a rethink from United, because, in Carrick’s ideal setup, a left-back who can tuck inside and contribute to a back three is precisely what the system requires.
Michael Carrick already appears to have his left-back solution in Mazraoui. United have been seeking to strengthen the left flank with either a left-back or a left-winger. After Patrick Dorgu’s renaissance as a winger, a traditional left-back profile seemed more likely. While Lewis Hall was linked as a potential option, Mazraoui’s World Cup performances suggest Carrick should pursue continuing this approach at club level.
Carrick’s tactical style features a lopsided full-back setup, where one full-back tucks inside to form a back three while the other pushes forward to create a 3-2-5 in possession. Mazraoui stands apart from United’s current left-back options, such as Luke Shaw, who is more traditional in overlapping runs. This arrangement provides Carrick with flexibility to switch based on the opposition’s vulnerabilities, choosing between a left-back who bombs forward or a right-back to exploit weak spots.
As the World Cup unfolds, it becomes clearer that United may not need a new left-back. Mazraoui offers a unique contribution to this position, aligning with Carrick’s tactical vision and presenting a compelling internal option for the club’s left side.
