Right in the middle of the World Cup, Noussair Mazraoui is making some surprising statements. The former Bayern pro apparently isn’t even ruling out an immediate end to his career.
Noussair Mazraoui has caused a stir with remarkable statements about his future. The Moroccan national team player explained that he could even imagine ending his professional career as early as after the current World Cup.
“I might end my career after the World Cup. Life is short. I want to memorize the Quran and one day become an imam at a mosque,” said the 28-year-old.
The current Manchester United player attributed his thoughts to his deep religious devotion. The Moroccan, who was born in the Netherlands, has been considered a devout Muslim for years and consistently practices his faith throughout his career.
For example, during Ramadan, Mazraoui regularly observed the fasting requirements despite the high demands of professional soccer, abstaining from food and drink during the day.
Mazraoui was never truly happy at FC Bayern
On the field, Mazraoui’s path took him from Ajax Amsterdam to FC Bayern on a free transfer in the summer of 2022. In Munich, the fullback played a total of 55 competitive matches and won the German championship in 2023.
However, he never quite made his big breakthrough at the record-holding champions. Time and again, he was set back by minor injuries. In addition, political statements he made off the field occasionally sparked controversy.
In the summer of 2024, he finally moved to Manchester United. At the time, the English club paid around 15 million euros to Munich.
Shortly after his departure, Mazraoui made it clear that he viewed his time at FC Bayern with a critical eye: “After two seasons with Bayern, I needed to take the next step, for a number of reasons. I felt comfortable there, but I had the feeling that I might feel more at home somewhere else. I don’t think I need to explain why I’m joining a club like this.”
Morocco Already in the Knockout Stage
Before Mazraoui finally addresses his future, however, his focus remains on the World Cup.
Morocco kicked off the tournament with a strong 1-1 draw against Brazil and followed that up with a 1-0 victory over Scotland. As a result, the North Africans have already secured their spot in the knockout stage.
On June 25, they’ll face Haiti to close out the group stage. With two losses under their belt, the underdogs have nothing left to play for, while Morocco has already secured its spot in the next round.