Carlos Baleba's Manchester United Debut Delayed
Carlos Baleba’s Manchester United debut is on hold before it has even begun.
The £70 million midfielder, unveiled this week after completing his move from Brighton, will be sidelined for around three weeks with an ankle injury, Michael Carrick has confirmed.
Big-money signing, delayed start
Baleba, 22, arrived at Old Trafford as the latest piece in United’s midfield rebuild, following the summer additions of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. The club’s director of football, Jason Wilcox, hailed the Cameroon international as “an elite midfielder with immense potential to develop further” – but supporters will have to wait to see that potential in red.
He joined United carrying an ankle problem, one that had already kept him out of Brighton’s Conference League fixtures and their Premier League opener. It also rules him out of Sunday’s Premier League home game against promoted Ipswich and the matches that follow.
“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.”
Carrick’s timeframe points towards a possible first appearance against Baleba’s former club. United face Brighton at home in the Carabao Cup before travelling to Fulham on September 20, their final outing ahead of hosting Tottenham after the international break on October 10.
Cautious optimism on injuries
The new three-week international window complicates the picture. Asked whether Baleba and Amad Diallo could return before that break, Carrick refused to circle dates on the calendar.
“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 offers a timely boost. United are still smarting from last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at play-off winners Hull, a jarring start to the season that has sharpened the focus on Carrick’s options and the team’s balance.
“Huge potential, massive potential”
For Carrick, Baleba remains central to that balance once fit.
“We’re delighted to have Carlos,” the United manager 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.”
The message is clear: United see Baleba not just as depth, but as a midfielder who can change the feel of their engine room.
Response required after Hull setback
United’s need for that change was underlined at Hull. Chasing the game, Carrick turned to Marcus Rashford at half-time, the forward coming on after being granted extra rest following the World Cup. Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo also stepped off the bench as United searched for a way back.
It wasn’t enough. Now, Ipswich arrive at Old Trafford with momentum and nothing to lose, while United hunt a reaction.
“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,” Carrick said. “We’ll pick a team for the weekend but, yeah, certainly the boys are massively in contention.”
For now, that squad won’t include their £70 million midfielder. The anticipation around Carlos Baleba will have to simmer a little longer – and when he finally steps out at Old Trafford, the expectation will be even higher.
