Manager sends ‘stay humble’ warning with Man Utd set to persist with £100m transfer
Carlos Baleba was a target for Manchester United in the summer transfer window, but the Red Devils decided to hold off on a move until 2025, and the midfielder has not been in the best of form since
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim shouts instructions to the players from the touchline
Manchester United retain interest in Carlos Baleba(Image: OLI SCARFF, AFP via Getty Images)
Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Fabian Hurzeler has urged Carlos Baleba to remain grounded following Manchester United’s summer interest in the midfielder. No transfer materialised during the window after United postponed any potential deal until next year, as Brighton priced Baleba at approximately £100million.
The player was eager to make the move, but ultimately stayed on the south coast. A sluggish start to the campaign has ensued, with Hurzeler either bringing the midfielder on or taking him off in all six of their fixtures.
Baleba did not even feature from the start against Bournemouth in their opening match following September’s international break.
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A half-time substitution, which also occurred when Brighton faced Everton last month, followed during their 2-2 stalemate with Tottenham Hotspur.
Baleba notably picked up a knee injury in mid-July, which ruled him out for the remainder of their pre-season preparations. Hurzeler now admits that Baleba remains short of full fitness.
“Everyone has to understand with Carlos, he’s a very young player,” the Brighton head coach said. “He needs help from us.
“He tried everything today. He only had 45 minutes in his body, and it’s something that we have to accept.”
Carlos Baleba
Carlos Baleba is one of the midfielders on Manchester United’s radar(Image: Getty Images)
Hurzeler also responded to whether transfer speculation has affected the Cameroon international. “It’s all a lot of theory,” he said. “We can only guess.
“For sure, when a young boy reads that there’s interest from Manchester United with a big, big offer, it might affect him deep.
“Even if he’s not saying, ‘It affects me,’ maybe deep inside of him, there is something that affects him.
“It’s even part of the development, to understand when you play well and a big club comes, to keep pushing, and to stay humble, to stay at Brighton and make the next step as a team.
“And that’s something we have to keep on working with him, and so, therefore, I can’t give you a clear answer if it’s really affected him or not.”
United are expected to reignite their interest in Baleba going into 2026, having not given up on landing the midfielder.
Ruben Amorim probably wishes he had landed the talented Brighton man after Casemiro’s red card against Chelsea on Saturday.
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