With reports suggesting Manchester United are not planning to keep Morocco midfielder Sofyan Amrabat beyond June, here are some more African stars who failed to impress at their new clubs in 2023/24!
Sofyan Amrabat - Manchester United
Having exploded on to the scene at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the Morocco international was one of the most highly sought-after stars after the tournament. A number of top clubs were reportedly interested in his signature, including AC Milan, FC Barcelona, and Manchester United, but it would be the latter who secured his services on a season-long loan deal, which included an option to buy, at the beginning of 2023/24. However, the 27-year-old has fallen rather short of expectations at Old Trafford, with reports now suggesting that United plan to cut ties with the player at the end of the campaign rather than sign him on a permanent deal from Fiorentina. According to Italian outlet Tuttosport, Milan are now monitoring the situation with a potential move in mind. Amrabat ranks 17th in the United squad in terms of minutes played this season, and has zero goal involvements, as per Transfermarkt.
Read: African star of the weekend: The Togolese talisman!
Seko Fofana - Al Nassr
The Ivory Coast international joined Al Nassr from RC Lens at the beginning of the season in a deal worth €25 million (R494 million), becoming the club's fourth-most expensive signing of all time behind Otavio, Sadio Mane, and Aymeric Laporte. However, the 2023 African Cup of Nations winner was shipped out of the club in January 2024 after just 19 matches for the Saudi giants, joining Steven Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq on loan for the remainder of the campaign. Reports in Saudi Arabia suggested that Al Nassr wanted to free up space on their quota for non-homegrown players, and Fofana was viewed as the player manager Luis Castro could do without among his foreign stars.
Hamed Traore - Napoli
In the January transfer window, Napoli signed the Ivorian on a loan deal from Bournemouth, which included an option to make the move permanent. However, the 24-year-old has found consistent game time difficult to find in Italy, having played less than 400 minutes in four months. Having been named in Napoli's Serie A matchday squad on 15 occasions, Traore has only started five league games, along with six substitute appearances. The Italian side have just two games remaining this term, and reports suggest that the club is yet to make a decision on Traore signing on permanently.
Boulaye Dia - Salernitana
The Senegalese striker joined Salernitana as the club's record signing at a fee of €14.4 million (R284 million) from Villarreal. However, after scoring four goals in 18 matches, Dia was frozen out of the team following a fallout with then-manager Fabio Liverani in March. The move has simply not worked out for both parties as the club has also been relegated from Serie A this season. In fact, Dia is suing the club for €20 million (R395 million) worth of damages!
Samuel Chukwueze - AC Milan
The Nigeria attacker had a brilliant 2022/23 season at Villarreal, and was even named that season's LALIGA African MVP. This was followed by a €20 million (R395 million) transfer to the Rossoneri at the start of the 2023/24 campaign, but it has been a largely underwhelming time for the pacy winger since. Under manager Stefani Pioli, Chukwueze is low on the team's attacking pecking order, with the likes of Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic being preferred starters on the flanks. The 24-year-old, who was also reportedly wanted by Bayern Munich, has only started 12 times in Serie A this season, and has only three goals across all competitions to date for the club.
Read: Another EPL giant 'joins race' for R2.5bn African star
Disclaimer: SNL24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on SNL24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of SNL24.