Mazraoui off injured as the break bites
Noussair Mazraoui was forced off in Morocco's 2–0 win over Lesotho in AFCON 2027 qualifying on Tuesday, and United are now sweating on him (3). He is the third United player to pick up a scare on international duty this break, and one report has United worried about a fifth concern overall (2) (11). The 28-year-old defender went down grabbing his back, and teammates waved for the bench (11). Michael Carrick gets the verdict when his squad reports back.
Amad Diallo back for Tottenham
One piece of good news. Amad Diallo is set to return for the Tottenham game at Old Trafford on Saturday, October 10 (2). Your next match is Tottenham at 18:30 CEST that day, then Atlético Madrid away in the Champions League on Tuesday, October 13 (fixtures).
Baleba is training on his day off
Carlos Baleba is at Carrington even on his off days, working to be ready to start against Tottenham (1). A source close to him is clear: "United will need the Baleba of 2024/2025 to help turn this season around, but there is internal confidence in the highly skilled player they have signed. Mark my words, he will be a success" (1). United's data department were still huge advocates by the end of last season, putting him in the top one per cent for second balls won in the Premier League and the top eight per cent for combined tackles and interceptions (9).
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Moorhouse's season looks over
Jack Moorhouse was on a season-long loan at Dundee. He has an ACL injury and is back at United (6). Dundee boss Steven Pressley did not dress it up: "It very much looks like his season is over, which is devastating for Jack and for us" (6).
Defensive shortlist grows
United are watching Stuttgart centre-back Finn Jeltsch, with Stuttgart only opening talks at €50m to €60m (7). Micky van de Ven is a top target for the 2027 summer window (10). Mick Brown on him: "He ticks so many boxes for them; he's got plenty of Premier League experience, he's still only young, he can play on that left-hand side of the defence, and importantly, he's rapid" (10). Wesley is on the winter shortlist too (15), plus watch on Alejandro Balde (14).
Berrada under the spotlight
Omar Berrada's long spell at Manchester City is being re-examined after City's guilty verdict on financial charges (4) (12). He has said he "will not be affected by the outcome of Manchester City's Premier League charges" (12), and some voices now want United to re-evaluate its chief executive (12). Wayne Rooney's take on the titles United finished runners-up for in 2011/12: he does not want them handed to United retrospectively (13).
Fan-reaktioner
The mood on r/reddevils comes in two parts. Mazraoui's exit in the 69th minute against Lesotho drew the immediate frustration, with a thread tracking his injury here. The bigger talking point is City's verdict, read less as a rival's problem and more as something that "affects the whole league, it affects us" here.
