Speaking after his departure from Manchester United, an African star has now publicly revealed the truth behind his move.
Morocco international Sofyan Amrabat spent the majority of the 2023/24 season on loan at Old Trafford, in a season that saw him make 30 appearances for the Red Devils.
Read: CONFIRMED: Africa's top 10 after latest qualifiers
While the 28-year-old did not necessarily blow the United faithful away on a regular basis, he began to kick on towards the end of that campaign, making a case to be given a permanent deal by the Manchester club.
Despite making just 10 league starts, the former FC Utrecht star was even named in the XI for United's FA Cup final against Manchester City, and played an important role in helping the side clinch their second trophy in as many years.
However, Amrabat then returned to parent club Fiorentina, even though it was reported that the English giants were keen on bringing the midfielder back to the Theatre of Dreams, with manager Erik ten Hag said to have wanted him to stay on in Manchester.
A deal, however, failed to materialise and the Moroccan ended up joining Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce on loan, with an agreement in place to sign the player on a permanent basis at the end of this season.
The midfielder will face his old club United in a UEFA Europa League encounter on Thursday night, and speaking ahead of the game, he revealed the truth behind his departure from the EPL powerhous4e.
"I have a special relationship with Ten Hag since I was a 20-year-old at Utrecht," he said, per the Daily Mail via Manchester Evening News.
"He wanted to keep me this summer so I wish him the best but not for Thursday. I hope they lose."
When asked about why a permanent move to the Red Devils did not happen, he said: "The only thing that I want to say is that you have to ask Mr [Jason] Wilcox [United's new technical director]."
Read: Man City overtake stunning Man Utd record
By Junaid Benjamin
Follow him here on X