Carlos Baleba arrived at Manchester United this summer in a big-money deal with expectations high around the former Brighton midfielder
Paul Scholes and Teddy Sheringham have shared their views on Carlos Baleba
Paul Scholes and Teddy Sheringham have shared their views on Carlos Baleba (Image: James Gill - Danehouse, Getty Images)
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Manchester United legends Paul Scholes and Teddy Sheringham have raised doubts over Carlos Baleba being a success at Old Trafford. The midfielder arrived at M16 in August from Brighton & Hove Albion in a £65million, plus £5m in add-ons deal.
United were in desperate need of midfield additions after Casemiro's exit, following the expiration of his contract, and Manuel Ugarte's serious injury at the World Cup with Uruguay. The Reds signed Andrey Santos from Chelsea before Youri Tielemans joined from Aston Villa.
Baleba then joined after Brighton accepted a knockdown price. The 22-year-old's form dipped last season, but United chiefs are understood to be delighted with the deal they have struck 12 months after initially showing interest.
And former Reds midfielder Scholes has said on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast that Baleba will be a hit at Old Trafford, but added that it is not guaranteed.
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He said: “I don’t think it’s a guaranteed hit, but I don’t think he had a great season last year.
“If the season before, then, yeah, on that form, yeah, I think he will be alright, yeah.”
Paul Scholes has had his say on Carlos Baleba
Paul Scholes has had his say on Carlos Baleba (Image: The Good, The Bad and The Football )
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Ex-Reds striker Sheringham is more pessimistic, though. The 60-year-old said: "I’m not sold on Carlos Baleba, we’ve not seen him play at a club with the pressure of Man Utd yet so it’ll take six months or so before we can get a real idea.
"When you bring in two or three signings, you know they’re expected to be playing. With someone like Tielemans, everyone talks highly of him and you expect him to go straight into the side, which has been the case.
"So, someone like Baleba, with Kobbie Mainoo playing might have to bide his time. When that chance does come, they’ve got to grab it with both hands."
Baleba recently suffered an ankle ligament injury. The issue is not considered serious, but he is not expected to be available to play for United in the immediate future.
The Reds' other midfield arrivals this summer have been patchy, particularly during the opening day defeat at newly-promoted Hull City. Tielemans has shown glimpses of improvement in recent games against Ipswich Town and Everton.
But Santos has started on the bench for both of those fixtures, with Kobbie Mainoo coming in and impressing in his place. United are next in action on Thursday at home to Sabah in the Champions League (8pm), and Michael Carrick may be tempted to rotate his midfield ahead of Sunday's Manchester derby (4:30pm).