7 months ago
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Manchester United have grown ‘angry’ and frustrated over Hannibal Mejbri’s apparent poor treatment at Sevilla, with the midfielder badly struggling for minutes this season.
Mejbri made just five Premier League appearances under Erik ten Hag in the first half of the campaign and subsequently completed a January loan move to Sevilla in the hope of securing regular game-time in one of Europe’s top leagues.
But Mejbri has played just five times in La Liga, amounting to a total of just 89 minutes, under former Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores and the 21-year-old was reportedly involved in a training ground bust-up not long after joining.
After Mejbri was left out of Sevilla’s squad for their Copa del Rey clash with Atletico Madrid, Flores attempted to justify his decision, stating, ‘He has to understand what the club is’, and he has barely featured since.
Mejbri was handed a rare start in the side’s 3-2 win over Real Sociedad earlier this month but the Tunisia international appeared well off the pace, repeatedly giving away possession, and was substituted after just 53 minutes.
According to Spanish outlet AS, Sevilla have ‘angered’ United and the disastrous loan could ’cause a problem’ when the club try to attract players from the Premier League in the future, with Tottenham’s Alejo Veliz experiencing similar problems.
It’s claimed Mejbri’s severe lack of playing time at Sevilla ‘does not sit well at all’ with Old Trafford chiefs, especially given the youngster could have joined several English clubs instead in January.
Reports earlier this month suggested Mejbri’s entourage were ‘in disbelief’ over the player’s situation and ‘could not believe’ how little he had featured in Flores’ plans over recent weeks.
There are concerns that Mejbri’s confidence has taken a serious knock and it’s feared his development may actually have gone backwards since leaving the Red Devils on loan over the winter.
Sevilla have an €18m (£15m) option to buy Mejbri outright but, unsurprisingly, the club have no intention of making the Tunisian’s switch permanent when his loan deal expires.
Mejbri, a former France Under-17 international, put pen to paper a new contract with United before joining Sevilla on loan, tying him to the Theatre of Dreams until 2025.
Ten Hag has spoken highly of Mejbri and said the young midfielder was setting an example to the rest of United’s squad after he made consecutive starts for the first time back in September.
‘I think he gives a very good message to the rest of the squad that this is the demand, this has to be the standard when you are playing in a position, what you have to bring to the team, to get success,’ Ten Hag told reporters at the time.
‘Especially when you’re playing against possession-based teams; he is a really good fit, to give a good contribution to a good performance and to the result. I don’t think [his adaptation has been] that quick.
‘Before I came in here, he was already in the first team, he made his debut. Last year he was on loan and this year he is making progress.
‘So that’s why he deserved an opportunity and I think now he’s taking that opportunity. Every time he has to improve and he had to give the evidence that he is worthy of playing. But that counts for everyone, every player in the squad.
‘There are situations where players are ahead, but it’s good that the internal competition is there and hopefully it gives other players a push that they have to bring more, they have to add more. Because he did a great job for the team, he really contributed to our levels in the last two games.’
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