Manchester United’s recent summer signing, Noussair Mazraoui, is set to miss the next two months after being diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia, according to reports. The news adds to the club’s woes, as they struggle with their worst-ever start to a Premier League season, earning just eight points from seven matches.

Italian journalist Nicolo Schira reported that Mazraoui, a £17 million acquisition, has been diagnosed with the heart condition, which causes irregularities in heartbeats. While the condition can lead to the heart beating too fast, too slow, or erratically, the NHS notes that proper diagnosis and management can allow individuals to lead normal lives.

Mazraoui’s absence is a significant setback for manager Erik ten Hag, as the 26-year-old had been a key player in United’s Premier League campaign, featuring in all of their matches so far this season. Notably, Mazraoui provided an assist during United’s 2-1 loss to Brighton in August, demonstrating his smooth adjustment to life at Old Trafford.

This isn’t the first heart-related issue for Mazraoui. In January 2023, while playing for Bayern Munich, he was diagnosed with heart tissue inflammation following a COVID-19 infection, causing him to miss Morocco’s World Cup quarter-final against Portugal.

Mazraoui joins a growing list of footballers affected by heart conditions. His current teammate, Christian Eriksen, suffered a cardiac arrest during Euro 2020 and now plays with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Similarly, Sergio Aguero was forced to retire after being diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia in 2021 while playing for Barcelona.

Mazraoui’s situation will be closely monitored during his recovery period, as Manchester United face increasing challenges this season, including injuries to other key players like £52 million signing Leny Yoro.