September 2nd 2023.
On deadline day, Manchester United completed a deal to sign Sofyan Amrabat from Fiorentina. Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf has admitted he wished his old club had attempted to hijack the deal.
United paid £8.5m to take the 27-year-old Moroccan international on a season-long loan with an option to make the deal permanent for £21.4m. Leboeuf believes that Amrabat would have been the perfect player to pair with Enzo Fernandez in Chelsea's midfield and is disappointed that the Blues did not make a move for him.
"When I see a player of that quality going to Manchester United, I often think of Chelsea trying to find experienced players in the middle of the park," he said to ESPN. "Why didn't they think of him? He would have been the perfect player to pair with Enzo Fernandez. Moises Caicedo was signed instead, but for over £100m! I see this guy going to United on loan, and then able to be bought for a total fee of £30m. That would have been a bargain."
Leboeuf went on to praise Amrabat's talent, highlighting his performance in the last World Cup. "He was amazing for Morocco," he continued. "He has proven his talent. Why don't Chelsea think of these guys? He's an experienced player. Why don't Chelsea think of these kind of players?"
Chelsea have chosen to focus on signing young players in the Todd Boehly era, offering them long contracts in the hope that they will develop into superstars.
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