Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido Carrasco insists the La Liga outfit are ‘super excited’ to have the ‘magnificent’ Hannibal Mejbri on loan from Premier League giants Manchester United.
The Tunisia international made headlines for all the wrong reasons last week, left out of the starting XI during the 1-1 draw with Osasuna after a very public dressing down by Sevilla coach Quique Sanchez Flores.
Hannibal Mejbri, who joined on loan from Manchester United in a deal which could become permanent for £14 million, was fortunate to avoid a red card on his La Liga debut too, with one Spanish football expert critical of both his attitude and his performance.
So, a tough start then.
Sevilla’s president is ‘convinced’, however, that things can only get better from here.
Sevilla backing for Manchester United loanee
“I think things have been blown out of proportion a little. We are very excited about Hannibal,” Del Nido tells ABC de Sevilla. “We are convinced that Hannibal is going to make it at Sevilla.
“He’s only been here a couple of weeks. It’s a new country, a new culture, a new city, a different way of training, a different coaching style.
“We are super excited about Hannibal. (We’re) convinced he is going to play a lot and breakthrough here at our club.”
Manchester United included a £30 million buy-back clause in Hannibal’s contract, an indication of just how highly the former Birmingham City loanee is regarded at Old Trafford. It remains to be seen, however, if he has earned the trust of Sanchez Flores on the training pitch, with relegation-threatened Sevilla travelling to Rayo Vallecano on Monday night.
Hannibal Mejbri could leave Old Trafford for £14m
“Hannibal is a magnificent professional,” Del Nido adds, rubbishing reports of a clash between the 21-year-old and Sevilla team-mate Mariano Diaz.
“He trains well, he takes care of himself. As the proverb goes; ‘A skinny dog is all flea’. When the team is not doing well and not winning games, stories are created that are not real. Like this one that is not real.‘
“Hannibal is an excellent professional and everyone is happy with him, including the head coach. And, as I already said, we are convinced he is going to make it with Sevilla.”
Hannibal has bene joined in Andalusia by former Man United Under-23 forward Mateo Mejia. Facundo Pellistri, meanwhile, is also now in Spain, joining Sevilla’s relegation rivals Granada on loan.
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