Manchester United Head Coach Ruben Amorim has expressed uncertainty regarding the availability of three key players—Bryan Mbeumo, Noussair Mazraoui, and Amad Diallo—for Monday’s Premier League fixture against Bournemouth before the trio departs for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The confusion stems from a recent ruling by world governing body FIFA, which announced last week that the mandatory release period for the biennial championship would be “reduced by seven days and start on Monday, December 15, 2025.” The problem for United is that they host Bournemouth that very day.
Manager Amorim admitted on Friday that the club remains in the dark over whether the three internationals, called up by their respective nations for the tournament in Morocco, will be permitted to play one final club match.
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Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon) is United’s top scorer in the Premier League this season, having netted six goals.
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Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast) has been a regular fixture in the squad this term.
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Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco) has recently returned from injury and started the matches against West Ham and Wolves.
Amorim confirmed the ongoing efforts to secure the players’ availability:
“We are still in conversations with the national teams,” Amorim told reporters on Friday. “The game is just Monday. They are here, they are training, and we are trying to prepare all the scenarios for the game.”
The manager acknowledged the frustration of the situation but stressed the importance of squad depth. “It’s frustrating, but at the same time nobody knows who is going to play, so it’s a good thing. We have players to cope with everything, and that is something with a long week, you can see a lot of things and work to prepare the game in any situation.”
Mazraoui’s Morocco will kick off the AFCON tournament against Comoros in the opener on December 21, while Mbeumo’s Cameroon and Diallo’s Ivory Coast are set to play their first games three days later.
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