One Manchester United target has given his side after being linked with a move to Old Trafford, while key details regarding Cristiano Ronaldo’s ill-fated return have surfaced
Manchester United target Carlos Baleba has responded following a dip in form since being linked with a move to Old Trafford. The Brighton midfielder was touted as a £100million contender to join Ruben Amorim‘s ranks before a late transfer attempt collapsed in the summer.
Baleba has been called up by Cameroon ahead of this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, where he’ll team up with United ace Bryan Mbeumo. And the 21-year-old has fronted up ahead of United potentially reviving their interest in his services next year.
Elsewhere, the specifics behind Cristiano Ronaldo‘s 2021 move back to Manchester reveal how United were coerced into completing the transfer. Mirror Football delves further into the latest headlines surrounding Old Trafford as Amorim and his side gear up to next face Aston Villa on Sunday.
Carlos Baleba addresses rumours
United fans thought they were onto a transformative transfer when it emerged late in the summer that the club was looking into Baleba. The Seagulls star was coming off the back of a breakout campaign on the south coast and ticked almost every box in terms of what the club requires in midfield.
However, the Red Devils were priced out of a move after Brighton revealed his £100m price-tag. And some have speculated the distraction of United’s interest has had a hand in his reduced output this season.
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Baleba, 21, has played a full 90 minutes just once in the Premier League this term after looking all but indispensable under Fabian Hurzeler last season. The youngster pushed back on the notion United’s enquiry has had anything to do with his form this season, though he acknowledged things aren’t the same as they once were.
“I don’t think it affected me. But I had a lot of pressure on me,” he said during an interview ahead of his AFCON involvement. “When I started the season, I wanted to [have] the same performances as last season.
“Every day I try to work hard and to get [back] to my level. Did I put too much pressure on myself? Yes, I think so, but I think that’s good.”
Jorge Mendes forced Ronaldo’sUnited reunion
Despite cultivating an iconic reputation at Old Trafford during his first stint, Ronaldo’s return in 2021 was met with mixed response. Some loyalists were ecstatic about the reunion that had long been promised, even if he was 36 years old at the time and way past his prime, while others didn’t see value in the investment.
As it turned out, the latter camp was correct. Ronaldo scored 24 goals in his first season back at the Theatre of Dreams having left Juventus, but he eventually left for Al-Nassr in December 2022 amid reports he became a disruptive presence in the dressing room.
And the Daily Mail has now revealed Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, orchestrated the move by stretching certain details. Namely, he led United to believe Ronaldo “had the pen in his hand” ready to join rivals Manchester City, and that was enough to urge the Red Devils into action.
A source with knowledge of the deal was quoted, saying: “It created a panic. The idea of him scoring for City against United was too much for them. They were frightened to death about how the fans would react when the reality was that signing him would go against everything that Ole was trying to do.”
It’s perhaps no coincidence United had four different coaches during Ronaldo’s second stint at the club. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in charge when the deal was completed, while Michael Carrick and Ralf Rangnick held caretaker roles before Erik ten Hag’s appointment in 2022.
Despite his prolific return initially back in England, Ronaldo’s move back ended up costing United roughly £1.2m per goal he scored. And it was all down to the machinations of a certain super agent behind the scenes.
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
