Man United's Noussair Mazraoui unveils new look in Manchester derby; supporters note apparent hair transplant
Defender returned to the starting XI after two weeks out and wore a shaved head that attracted widespread attention on social media
Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui drew attention for his new shaved-head appearance after starting Sunday’s Manchester derby against Manchester City, with supporters on social media suggesting the change was the result of a hair transplant.
Mazraoui returned to the starting lineup after making a five-minute substitute appearance against Burnley while recovering from an injury. He lined up at right wing-back in a United defence that also featured Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Luke Shaw, with Patrick Dorgu at left wing-back. Manchester City took the lead in the opening 20 minutes through Phil Foden.
Fans quickly commented on Mazraoui’s short, shaved style after the match, posting on platforms including X. One United supporter wrote, "God take my hair and give it to Mazraoui," while another quipped, "Donnarumma and Mazraoui having a worse hair off." A third post likened the defender’s new look to Mohamed Salah, who underwent a widely reported hair restoration procedure in recent years.
The change was visible in training prior to the derby; a team fan page shared a photograph showing Brentford midfielder Bryan Mbeumo laughing after seeing his team-mate’s new appearance. Supporters compared Mazraoui’s altered hairline to other well-known players who have been linked with hair transplants or hairline procedures, including Salah, Wayne Rooney and, in media reports, David Beckham. Former players and current internationals such as Harry Kane, Ryan Giggs and David Silva have also been included in discussions about hair restoration in football.
Hair transplant procedures have become more common among professional footballers, with media reports indicating that costs can run into several thousand pounds depending on the clinic and the extent of treatment. Clubs and players typically do not comment on personal medical or cosmetic procedures.
Mazraoui’s new look added a social-media talking point to a high-profile fixture that United approached amid efforts to arrest a sluggish start to the season. The defender’s appearance in the derby marked his first start of the campaign after an injury-affected opening period and followed his brief substitute outing against Burnley.
United’s season developments, including player fitness and selection choices, will remain under scrutiny as the club seeks consistency in domestic and European competitions. Observers on social media will likely continue to note off-field changes such as personal grooming as part of the wider conversation around players’ public profiles.