La Liga expert Terry Gibson wonders if Hannibal Mejbri is really what Sevilla ‘needed’ with the Manchester United loanee enduring a miserable start to his loan spell at the Spanish strugglers.
In their situation, Gibson argues, relegation-threatened Sevilla maybe would have benefitted more from the addition of an experienced campaigner. A proven, dependable player capable of leading by example and keeping his head while all those around him are losing theirs.
Hannibal Mejbri, however, is maybe the exact opposite.
The Manchester United-owned midfielder is never afraid to speak his mind or stick his boot in, but there is a fine line between aggression and recklessness. And, according to former Red Devils forward Gibson, that is a line Hannibal strayed across during a poor debut performance in the 5-1 hammering by title-challengers Girona, the Tunisia international booked inside a minute and perhaps lucky to avoid a second one.
Manchester United loanee endures dreadful start
“It’s something I’ve seen in him, playing for Man United’s under-23s,” Gibson explains on El Tel and Jon’s La Liga Weekly podcast. “A decent footballer. But I did see a questionable attitude when his team are losing. There was petulance, he got sent off (at times) and had to be substituted,”
“When he turned up last week, it annoyed me. I saw him having a go at players, he didn’t hold his position, he ran around all over the place. And I wasn’t alone (in being critical).”
You can say that again.
Sevilla coach Quique Sanchez Flores did not hold back in his criticism last week, intimating that the former Birmingham loanee had a lot to learn, not just with regards to his actions on the pitch but with his attitude off it too.
“Quique Sanchez Flores annihilated him to be honest. He said that he has to remember that he’s come to a very important club in Sevilla. He has to know his place and show respect,” Gibson adds.
“I raised my eyebrows when I saw that was the player who was signing for Sevilla.
“There is a player there waiting to burst onto the scene. His all round talent is good. But I did think, in their situation, they probably needed someone a little more dependable.
“Rather than a young player trying to make his way into professional football. Maybe not what was needed.”
‘We are super excited’
Sevilla president Jose Maria Del Nido Carrasco is not giving up on Hannibal any time soon, however, insisting that the club are ‘super excited’ to bring in a player who could yet set them back £14 million should his loan turn into a permanent transfer.
Monday’s trip to Rayo Vallecano, meanwhile, could offer Hannibal an immediate chance to silence his critics.
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