Manchester United v AS Roma - UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD4
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Bruno Fernandes revealed what he has been “seeing” from Carlos Baleba after the Manchester United summer signing’s arrival at Old Trafford in the summer.
Carlos Baleba was in action for the Red Devils on Tuesday evening and started alongside Kobbie Mainoo in the Champions League clash at Old Trafford.
However, the 22-year-old former Brighton midfielder suffered a hamstring issue early in the second half of Manchester United’s 3-2 comeback win over Roma.
Baleba was forced off the pitch and Michael Carrick brought on midfield summer signing Youri Tielemans while Man Utd were chasing Roma’s 2-0 lead on Tuesday.
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Kasper Schmeichel says that Bruno Fernandes’ verdict on Carlos Baleba’s quality spoke volumes for Man Utd
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick confirmed that Carlos Baleba had picked up a hamstring problem during the Champions League match at Old Trafford. The Red Devils summer signing, who arrived at the Premier League club in August, had missed the opening months of the 2026-27 campaign after his pre-season injury in the summer.
Baleba’s long-awaited debut for Man Utd came after the extended October international break in the Red Devils’ 1-1 draw against Tottenham at Old Trafford. Kasper Schmeichel, who is the son of United treble winner Peter Schmeichel, has now admitted that Bruno Fernandes told him that he was ‘impressed’ by what he had seen from Baleba so far.
“Yeah, it’s a shame for him,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily.
“You know, he’s just getting his run of games. I had a brief conversation actually with Bruno Fernandes when Denmark played against Portugal recently, and he said that what he’s seeing in training from him is really impressive.”
When discussing Baleba’s time at Man Utd so far, Kasper Schmeichel added: “He was someone that he was really looking forward to seeing on the pitch, and he’s done incredibly well.
“I will say that Youri coming on, I think that gave it a different dimension, but the problem they’re going to have is obviously strength and depth. It looks like a hamstring.”
United signed Baleba for an initial transfer fee of £65m and agreed a further £5m in add-ons to Premier League side Brighton. Since recovering from his pre-season injury, the Cameroon international has made seven appearances across all competitions for Carrick’s men this season.