After the marquee game against Liverpool, Manchester United will face Brighton, which means a renewal of acquaintance with a player whose fate seems to be intrinsically linked to the club now.
Carlos Baleba faced an intense last month of the transfer window once Man Utd made their interest in him known.
Baleba ended the window as a Brighton player, but with a lingering feeling of “when” United will return, not “if”.
In the meantime, Baleba will come to Old Trafford, just not in United colours, as Brighton face Ruben Amorim’s men on October 25. The midfielder has an ominous message.
Carlos Baleba’s ominous message ahead of Man Utd clash
The noise that has followed Baleba this season sums up how different the scrutiny is at Man Utd compared to any other club in world football.
Baleba didn’t even join, and yet, just the concrete links to United have made his every performance get scrutinised.
Baleba has struggled this season, with Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler even accepting that United links turned his head somewhat.
However, after Brighton’s latest victory over Newcastle, Baleba has sent an ominous message with a clash at Old Trafford up next.
In a game where he did well, completing 100% of his passes (32/32), and provided an all-action presence in the middle of the park, Baleba ‘found himself’ again.
After the game, he posted on Instagram, “Good team win and I’m feeling like myself again,” with his signature hashtag – “Are you a Baleba”.
With United’s midfield looking shaky at best and porous at worst, Baleba finding his feet just in time for an Old Trafford audition is ominous news for United.
On the other hand, he could be doing what Matheus Cunha did last season, which ended with him joining the club.
Baleba giving Matheus Cunha deja vu
It was April 20, 2025, and Ruben Amorim’s men were limping towards the finish line in a Premier League season that had ceased to be of importance long ago.
Wolves were the visitors to Old Trafford that day, and in a low-excitement game, one player was determined to make a difference.
Matheus Cunha’s links to United had started popping up, and the Brazilian was all too happy to pour fire on those links.
Cunha clapped the United fans like he was one of their own before the game, and once the whistle blew, he played with the mindset of a player who was determined to show his potential employers his quality.
Cunha tormented United that day with a driven mentality, and ultimately won himself a move to United.
Baleba telling the world he is feeling like himself again, a week away from a visit to Old Trafford, is not a coincidence.
The player is ready to repeat what Cunha did. United need to be wary now and excited for next summer.
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