Baleba's £70m United Debut Delayed by Injury
Manchester United’s latest big-money signing will have to watch the start of the season from the sidelines.
Michael Carrick has revealed that £70 million recruit Carlos Baleba is set to miss around three weeks with an ankle problem, delaying his debut after completing a move from Brighton on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old, who follows Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans through the door this summer, arrived at Old Trafford carrying the injury – an issue United were already aware of before sealing the deal.
“He’s got a little ankle issue, so maybe a couple of weeks or so, maybe three weeks,” Carrick said. “We’ll see but we knew that before, so it’s no major issue but it’ll be great to have him back when we can.”
That rules the Cameroon international out of Sunday’s Premier League home game against promoted Ipswich and likely the fixtures immediately after, extending a frustrating spell on the treatment table that already saw him miss Brighton’s Conference League ties and their league opener.
A debut against his former club is now firmly on the horizon. United host Albion in the Carabao Cup before travelling to Fulham on September 20, their final match before Tottenham visit Old Trafford after the international break on October 10. Carrick’s timeline points straight at that Brighton clash as a potential first outing.
Excitement parked, not paused
Inside the club, the anticipation around Baleba is undimmed by the delay. Director of football Jason Wilcox has already hailed him as “an elite midfielder with immense potential to develop further”, and Carrick echoed that enthusiasm.
“We’re delighted to have Carlos,” the United boss said. “I think huge potential, massive potential. I think he’s a really exciting signing for us.
“I think the quality that he has, the attributes that he has that offsets a little bit of the balance of the group that we’ve got. Different strengths, different combinations.
“So, for us to have that, absolutely delighted to have him. I think there’s so much more to come from him as well, which with the player that he already is with that little bit more to come is exciting for us.”
For now, though, United must find a response without him.
Last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at play-off winners Hull was a jolt – a flat, worrying start to the campaign that sharpened the focus on Carrick’s midfield options and the need for a reaction at home to Ipswich.
Marcus Rashford was thrown on at half-time at Hull after being given extended rest following the World Cup, joined by Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo as Carrick tried to jolt his side into life. The manager insists he still has enough depth to mix things up.
“We’ve got a squad to choose from. We’ve got a good squad and we could pick a variety kind of combinations within the team,” he said. “We’ll pick a team for the weekend but, yeah, certainly the boys are massively in contention.”
Injury picture: hope, with caveats
Baleba is not the only player on the comeback trail. Asked whether the new signing and Amad Diallo could feature before the upcoming three-week international break, Carrick kept his cards close.
“It’s obviously new, the break to deal with, but we’ll wait and see,” he said. “We’re hopeful but I don’t want to put any deadlines on it just yet.
“Amad won’t be involved this week. He’ll be out for a little bit longer. Mase (Mason Mount) is back around the group, which was great. Trained this week, so that’s a big positive for us.”
Mount’s return at least nudges the midfield picture in a brighter direction while United wait on Baleba, a player they clearly see as a key piece in reshaping the engine room.
For now, the £70m man watches, waits and heals. When he finally steps out at Old Trafford, the expectation will be every bit as heavy as the price tag.
