Manchester United made it three wins in a row on Saturday but it was an evening to forget for Brighton’s Carlos Baleba
Carlos Baleba battles with Bruno Fernandes(Image: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Carlos Baleba joked that he was ‘coming to Old Trafford’ on social media prior to Manchester United’s 4-2 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion.
While the post was deleted, the impact of it perhaps lingered as the Cameroonian’s hour at Old Trafford played out. At 21, there is plenty of room for improvement but that possible United transfer will need to be put on hold for now.
Baleba was the player United fans had their eye on in the opposition ranks but he struggled. Bryan Mbeumo gave him a torrid time and when the midfielder unleashed a wayward shot in the second half, Fabian Hurzeler knew it was time to make a change.
With Baleba not being the £100m man that Brighton hoped he would be at Old Trafford, his exit allowed another player to catch the eye in the form of Yankuba Minteh. When the 21-year-old left Newcastle in 2024, eyebrows were raised considering he had only been at St James’ Park for a year.
During that 12 months he was loaned to Feyenoord so Newcastle supporters did not get to see his potential. Eddie Howe may have been kicking himself had he watched Minteh’s display at Old Trafford.
Yankuba Minteh was excellent against Manchester United
He showed what he could do early in the first half as he turned the normally unflappable Leny Yoro inside out, before just running out of room. However, he continued to be positive and direct, proving to be the main source of all that was good about Brighton’s play.
In the second half, he switched to the right-hand side but was no less effective, providing a stern test for Ayden Heaven. When he broke down the middle, Patrick Dorgu was in trouble and was very fortunate to see the winger take a slightly heavy touch.
Minteh and Danny Welbeck were arguably the two Brighton players who did not deserve to be on the losing side at Old Trafford.
Would Minteh fit into the United system? Potentially. He is young and you could see him playing a similar role to Amad or Mbeumo.
Should United pay £100m for him? Almost certainly not, especially as that position is well stocked at present and it may not take that much to sign Minteh anyway. But the winger showed Baleba the level you need to be at to earn that United move.
Yes, one is a forward and the other a defensive midfielder, but Minteh played with the freedom that his teammate did not.
Instead of being overawed by the occasion, Minteh relished it, and United would not go wrong looking at him in the future.