After the match, Donny van de Beek posted a message saying, “Last game before the season! Thank you, Dublin.”
But this could also be his last match for Manchester United. Van de Beek seemed to be given another chance as he started against Bilbao, but it turned out to be Manchester United’s second-string team, and he was the only player substituted in the first half. His replacement, Hannibal Mejbri, quickly caught up with the pace of the game, leading to Aitor Paredes’ red card.
After much hope and disappointment, it appears that Van de Beek’s career at Manchester United is coming to an end. The Red Devils’ fans and even Erik ten Hag seem to have run out of patience. Meanwhile, Mejbri’s career may just be getting started.
Hannibal Mejbri reveals he is ‘scared’ to SPEAK to ‘unbelievable’ Cristiano Ronaldo in training Mejbri is likely to be given opportunities this season. His debut came over two years ago, and he has only made two more appearances since then. His most recent outing for the Red Devils was in Ralf Rangnick’s final match as interim manager against Crystal Palace. Last season, the young star was loaned out to Birmingham and impressed during his time there.
Returning to Manchester United, he had some impressive performances during the preseason, starting with Leeds United in Oslo and Lyon in Edinburgh. During the U.S. tour, Mejbri was part of the U21 team that suffered a bitter defeat against Wrexham in San Diego.
Ten Hag spoke about the young players getting playing time in the friendlies, saying, “They deserve it; otherwise, we wouldn’t play them. When the preseason starts, we have to give them a chance, but they have to take it. They have courage, and that’s what I like. Be brave, play football, and show yourself. If you want to play in the first team, you have to take responsibility when controlling and not controlling the ball, and those young lads are doing that.”
Mejbri has played this role in various positions throughout his four years at Manchester United, from the academy to the first team. He was fouled 90 times in his first 29 matches for the Man United youth team. As Ten Hag is working to rebuild everything for a stronger squad depth, Mejbri could be a valuable member of the team. Manchester United needs a quality backup for Bruno Fernandes, and Mejbri has shown that he fits the fast-paced and energetic style of English football.
Mejbri is likely to be on the bench for the season opener against Wolves next week. If given some minutes against the Wolves, his Manchester United career could truly begin. Meanwhile, it seems that everything with Van de Beek has come to an end.
