Mateo Mejia is making a big impact after leaving Manchester United in January with two goals in just three games already for Sevilla’s youth team.
While Hannibal Mejbri has left his mark on the Sevilla set-up for a few less-than-desirable reasons – more yellow cards than meaningful contributions so far – Mateo Mejia is turning heads for more positive reasons. In fact, he could even be rewarded for his instant impact at B-team level with an A-team debut this coming weekend.
Sevilla coach Quique Sanchez Flores is going through something of an injury crisis. As such, there could be a place in the matchday squad for Mejia for the very first time, the relegation-threatened Andalusians facing off against Atletico Madrid with only 15 first-team players available (Vamos mi Sevilla).
But, make no mistake, Mejia’s inclusion will not purely be down to a lack of alternative options. The 20-year-old forward, signed on a free transfer from Manchester United in mid-January, has exploded out of the blocks for Sevilla’s youth side.
READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfer deals for January 2024, ins, outs, loan moves
Mateo Mejia shining after Manchester United exit
He’s scored now in successive matches, against CA Antoniano and then La Union Atletico. The performance against the latter was labelled ‘exceptional’, while Estadio Deportivo report that Sevilla have been left ‘delighted’ by the immediacy of Mejia’s impact, the gifted attacker also finding the net in a friendly against Bayern Munich.
“Mateo is a bullet and, in space, he is simply deadly,” Michel Catalan, who coached Mejia at Zaragoza before his 2019 move to Man United, tells ED.
“Sevilla has made a big bet on him. And I am sure that he will attract a lot of attention in the first-team if they give him minutes.”
“He has a powerful start that makes him very difficult to catch in a race,” added Raul Martinez, another former coach.
“Physically, he is an animal. He is very fast, breaks defences and is very hungry to achieve things, which is essential for any promising young football player.
‘He can make the difference’
Mejia was a regular at youth level but never made a senior appearance during four years at Man United. A pair of ‘major, lengthy injuries’ – to quote United’s academy director Nick Cox – certainly didn’t help, with the Colombian now returning to Spain looking to make up for lost time.
“He could be a pretty good addition for Sevilla,” Martinez adds. “It is true that he has had problems with injuries, but he was having a good season at Manchester United and will adapt easily.
“At Sevilla, there are no players with his profile and he can make the difference. He is the type of footballer that the team lacks.”
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
