Sofyan Amrabat making waves for Morocco at World Cup: Where does he play, things to know about him

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Against all odds, Morocco are still fighting in Qatar after a series of upsets and have now booked a place in the semi-finals against France next. The Africans were hugely expected to not even make it out of the group stages at the World Cup. But now following their historical win against Portugal in the Quarterfinals, they became the first African nation to reach such far in the competition.

Over the course of the competition, they outclassed Croatia and Belgium in the group stage and later heavyweights Spain and Portugal in the knockout. In the process, more impressively they have conceded just one goal.

The backline alongside their keeper Yassine Bounou is getting enough accolades from the fans and pundits however another name that has stood out in the competition is midfielder Sofyan Amrabat. The 25-year-old defensive midfielder has been the beating heart of the high-flying team and one of the key reasons behind their smooth run so far. He nullified the likes of Pedro and Gavi in the quarter while getting hold of Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Neves, and Bernardo Silva in the Semi-final.

Following the series of impressive displays, the Moroccan star is now attracting interest from all over Europe. Before a tug-of-war commences for his signature, here are a couple of things you need to know about him-

Sofyan Amrabat career so far:

Following a four-year stint with boyhood club Utrecht, the defensive midfielder secured a move to Feyenoord. However, after being unable to break into the senior side he made moves to Belgium to play for Club Brugge, before quickly being loaned out to Hellas Verona. He won their Player of the Season award in 2019-20 and his impressive performances saw him linked with the likes of Inter, Napoli, and AC Milan. But Fiorentina won the race of his signature and signed him in the 2020 January window. Since then he has been a key part of the side playing 78 matches for the Viola, scoring once.

Playing Style:

Amrabat is a no-brainer defensive midfielder who likes to act as a bridge between the defence and midfield. He is renowned for his tough-tackling and combative style but doesn’t offer much of a goal threat.

Transfer rumours:

The Moroccan midfielder was linked with Tottenham in the summer however, the link-up did not intensify further. However, following the impressive display, the interests could regenerate further alongside new suitors. As per some reports, Liverpool have been pretty impressed with his display so far and Jurgen Klopp has enquired about the defensive midfielder. But the rumours are still at an early stage and things will unfold more when the World Cup finally ends.