Bryan Mbeumo deeply influenced by iconic Premier League cult hero who Sir Alex Ferguson hailed for his ‘many qualities’

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Bryan Mbeumo’s four key inspirations when he was growing up included a remarkable talent that Sir Alex Ferguson failed to bring to Manchester United.

The 25-year-old officially left the Gtech Community Stadium earlier this week and Bryan Mbeumo completed his move to Manchester United this summer.

United landed Mbeumo after Brentford accepted the Red Devils’ third bid, with the Premier League club paying an initial fee of £65m for the French-born winger.

Mbeumo was linked with United when the summer window opened in June and the Cameroon international was expected to leave the Bees after the 2024-25 season.

The United summer signing had entered into the final 12 months of his contract at the Gtech Community Stadium ahead of arriving at Old Trafford on Monday.

United’s third transfer bid for Mbeumo was submitted last week and Red Devils’ £65m offer to Premier League side Brentford included a further £6m in add-ons.

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Bryan Mbeumo’s four-man list of influences includes one eye-catching ex-Man Utd transfer target from the Sir Alex Ferguson era

Bryan Mbeumo has linked up with his Manchester United teammates and the former Brentford ace will be part of the pre-season tour in the United States this summer.

The Cameroon international sat down with United’s official club media after he signed from the Bees and Mbeumo was asked about his football influences.

Mbeumo admitted that “obviously” two key inspirations for him were Barcelona and Argentina icon Lionel Messi and United and Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo.

“It changed with the time, obviously,” he said in a sit-down interview with United.

“So, when I was really young, we had like two [of the] best footballers in the world, Messi and Ronaldo. So, obviously I was watching them.”

Mbeumo went on to suggest that other influences crept into his life while he was growing up, with the United summer signing singling out Neymar and Eden Hazard.

“And when I was growing up, it was Neymar and then later than this was Eden Hazard,” he continued.

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What did Sir Alex Ferguson say about Chelsea cult hero Eden Hazard during his reign as Man Utd manager?

Eden Hazard, who announced his retirement from football in 2023, emerged on Sir Alex Ferguson’s transfer radar towards the tail end of the United legend’s reign.

The 34-year-old Belgian former winger was linked with Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham after making a real name for himself at French side Lille.

Ferguson watched Hazard when he was playing for Lille in a match against Lyon and the 83-year-old Scotsman was deeply impressed by the Premier League cult hero.

“I came to watch Lille play Lyon and followed Hazard of course, along with other players,” he told French radio station RMC Sport in 2012, as per BBC Sport.

“He is a very good player who has many qualities. He is particularly fast over the first 10 yards.”

Chelsea came out on top in the race to sign Hazard from Lille in 2012 for a reported £32m fee and Ferguson was famously critical of the price that the Blues paid for him.