HANNIBAL MEJBRI has signed a new long-term deal at Manchester United.
The French midfielder joined for a reported £9.3million fee from Monaco in 2019 and has impressed in the club’s reserves.
Hannibal Mejbri put pen to paper on a new contractCredit: Getty
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer posed with the teenage talent on MondayCredit: Getty
With the Red Devils seeing Mejbri as a star not just of the future but of today, having promoted him to the first-team, the club and player have agreed a new contract.
On Monday, the news was confirmed with the 18-year-old posing for photographs as he signed on the dotted line.
In 18 appearances for the Under-23s this season, he has notched four goals and seven assists.
Fans were left in awe of his link-up with Amad Diallo in a win for the United reserves against Blackburn last month.
With Ivorian winger Diallo and Shola Shoretire recently making their senior debuts, a runout for Mejbri is thought to be not far off.
In February, the playmaker joined fellow academy product Shoretire in being promoted to first-team training.
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At the time, United boss Solskjaer stated: “I think it’s the next step in their development.
“We’ve just got to take the hit on them when they play in the reserves that they have to travel by themselves, so they move into our bubble and I think that’s a nice step for them.
“Well deserved because they’ve done really well.”
However Mejbri has spent the past month recovering from a shoulder injury.
Indeed, U23s coach Neil Wood has told referees to do more to protect skilful starlets such as the Frenchman.
Last month, Wood told Manchester Evening News: “I think Hannibal has lots of quality and the frustrating point for him is that there must be about 15 fouls on him per game.
Hannibal Mejbri has been a star of the United Under-23 teamCredit: PA
“And at some point if it’s not stopped, or if the referee is not protecting him, he’s going to get his leg broken. That’s what I fear for him.
“He loves getting on the ball, he loves creating and teams love to hack him down as much as they can.
“He’s doing really well. He’s been outstanding for the last couple of games. He was outstanding against Liverpool and I thought he was excellent again [against Blackburn].”
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Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could turn to Amad Diallo amid striker injury crisis
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
