‘I’ve been forgotten so soon’: Defender who snubbed Arsenal last summer is now begging for another chance to play for Arsenal next season
Arsenal and Leeds United missed out on Noussair Mazraoui last summer and the Bayern Munich defender may have some regrets.
Mazraoui’s Ajax contract came to an end last summer and he was attracting major interest throughout his final season in Amsterdam.
ESPN reported back in November 2021 that both Arsenal and Leeds were keen on signing right back Mazraoui on a free transfer.
Arsenal have ended up using Ben White as a right back whilst Leeds brought in Rasmus Kristensen as their new right back.
There were links to Barcelona too but Mazraoui ended up choosing a move to join Bayern Munich.
The Moroccan international was expecting to take the next step in his career with a big move to Bavaria.
Instead, Mazraoui may end up living to regret making his move to the Allianz Arena.
Noussair Mazraoui unhappy at Bayern Munich
Mazraoui has endured a tricky first season with Bayern.
The 25-year-old has started just six Bundesliga games this season and come off the bench in another seven.
Since returning from a stunning World Cup campaign, Mazraoui has remarkably played just 13 minutes of action.
Thomas Tuchel has only given Mazraoui one minute of football since becoming Bayern boss and this situation is frustrating the defender.
Mazraoui spoke to Abendzeitung’s Maximilian Koch after Bayern’s Champions League exit at the hands of Manchester City on Wednesday.
The Moroccan noted that he is fit and ready to play but just isn’t being picked, claiming that his situation is ‘not good’.
“Before the World Cup I was in the starting XI, now I’m fit and don’t get any playing time. I’m not even second or third choice. It’s too early to talk about my perspective here. But it’s not good,” said Mazraoui.
Bild also spoke to the former Ajax star, who feels the the sacking of Julian Nagelsmann and appointment of Tuchel has hampered his playing time.
Mazraoui claims he feels ‘forgotten’ right now and It feels like a summer exit can’t be ruled out despite only joining Bayern last summer.
“I fought my way into the top eleven in the first half of the season, showed what I can do and came back after my pericarditis. Now it feels like I’ve been forgotten, even if that’s a big word. Football is football, you are only as good as your last game. But that was a long time ago for me. That is hard.”
“I haven’t known Thomas Tuchel for long, he’s only been here for three weeks. Our relationship is good, it was also with Julian Nagelsmann. But I might have gotten more chances with Julian, he knows me better. It’s harder for me under Tuchel,” he added.
Arsenal and Leeds may well be keeping tabs on Mazraoui’s unhappiness with the idea of finally luring him to England this summer after a difficult time in Germany.
