Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has expressed uncertainty over the availability of Bryan Mbeumo, Noussair Mazraoui, and Amad Diallo for Monday’s Premier League match against AFC Bournemouth. The trio is preparing to join their national teams for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. FIFA’s decision to shorten the player release window has left clubs in a state of limbo, with United actively engaging federations to resolve the matter.
In a pre-match press conference on Friday at the Carrington Training Complex, Amorim stated: “We are still in conversations with the national teams. The game is just Monday. They are here, they are training, and we are trying to prepare all the scenarios for the game.” The Portuguese coach, now in his third week at the helm, anticipates a resolution “today or maybe tomorrow,” but highlighted the importance of contingency planning: “We have players to cope with everything, and with a long week, you can work to prepare for any situation.”
FIFA’s announcement on December 5 that the mandatory release period for the 2025 AFCON—from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026—would begin on December 15, represents a seven-day reduction from the standard 14-day protocol. This adjustment, intended to minimise disruption during the festive period, directly clashes with United’s home fixture against Bournemouth at Old Trafford (kick-off 8:00 pm GMT). Mazraoui is set to play in Morocco’s tournament opener against Comoros on December 21 at Stade Ibn Batouta in Tangier, while Mbeumo and Diallo are scheduled for Cameroon and Ivory Coast’s debuts three days later.
Mbeumo, who was signed from Brentford for £55 million in the summer, has quickly become United’s most potent attacking threat, leading the club’s Premier League scoring charts with six goals in 15 appearances, including a brace in the 4-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 8. The 26-year-old Cameroonian winger, who earned his first call-up to the Indomitable Lions in September, has also registered three assists, ranking second in the squad for goal involvements behind Bruno Fernandes (nine). Diallo, 23, has started 12 of United’s 15 league games, scoring twice and providing four assists. His versatility across the right flank and central midfield has been integral under Amorim’s 3-4-3 system. Meanwhile, Mazraoui, despite dealing with hamstring and knee issues that limited him to 10 starts, has been solid in the right wing-back role, contributing with a 91% pass accuracy and three key passes in recent wins over West Ham United (2-1) and Wolves.
The trio’s potential absence would only compound United’s defensive woes. Centre-backs Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt are both unavailable—Maguire with a calf strain sustained during November’s 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town, and De Ligt sidelined since a thigh injury during October’s Europa League tie against Fenerbahçe. On a positive note, striker Benjamin Sesko is in contention for his first minutes since suffering a knee injury during the 2-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur on November 9. The Slovenian, who netted four goals in his opening eight appearances following his £63 million move from RB Leipzig, completed a full training session on Thursday and could offer a much-needed focal point in attack.
United head into the Bournemouth game in sixth place with 25 points from 15 games (seven wins, four draws, four losses), having bounced back with consecutive victories that have steadied Amorim’s tenure after a difficult start. Bournemouth, managed by Andoni Iraola, are 11th with 20 points and have earned three wins in seven away matches, including a 1-0 upset against Manchester City in November. Historically, United have dominated this fixture, remaining unbeaten in the last 13 Premier League meetings (11 wins, two draws) since a 1-0 defeat in 2015.
Amorim’s frustration with the scheduling reflects broader concerns within the Premier League. Other clubs, such as Chelsea (with Nicolas Jackson and Moisés Caicedo for Senegal and Ecuador) and Liverpool (with Mohamed Salah for Egypt), face similar dilemmas due to the compressed release window, which forces last-minute squad adjustments. FIFA’s rationale for this change is to align with European calendars, but the decision has drawn criticism for prioritising national team commitments over club campaigns during a busy December period, with five matchweeks in 22 days.
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