Report: Brighton boss urges midfield star to remain grounded amid Man United talks

Brighton Boss Tells Baleba to ‘Stay Humble’ Amid Man Utd Transfer Links

Baleba’s Form Under Spotlight

Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler has called for patience with Carlos Baleba as speculation over a £100m move to Manchester United continues. The Mirror report that United, who were heavily linked with Baleba throughout the summer, chose to delay any move until 2025 after Brighton priced him at a nine-figure fee.

Photo IMAGO

Baleba was keen on the switch, but remained on the south coast and has since struggled to hit top form. He has been substituted or introduced from the bench in all six of Brighton’s fixtures so far this season and was even left out of the starting line-up for the Bournemouth clash after the September international break.

“Everyone has to understand with Carlos, he’s a very young player,” Hurzeler said. “He needs help from us. He tried everything today. He only had 45 minutes in his body, and it’s something that we have to accept.”

Transfer Speculation and Player Mindset

Hurzeler admitted that the speculation could have an impact. “For sure, when a young boy reads that there’s interest from Manchester United with a big, big offer, it might affect him deep,” he said. “Even if he’s not saying, ‘It affects me,’ maybe deep inside of him, there is something that affects him.”

Photo: IMAGO

Baleba suffered a knee injury in mid-July which disrupted his pre-season and is still building up his fitness. Hurzeler urged the midfielder to keep working hard and “stay humble, to stay at Brighton and make the next step as a team.”

United Interest Far From Over

Manchester United are widely expected to return for Baleba in 2026 as part of their long-term midfield rebuild. Ruben Amorim will be keen to add a young, physical midfielder after Casemiro’s red card against Chelsea left his side short in that area.

For Brighton, the challenge will be keeping Baleba focused on development rather than distraction, as his performances could determine how strong their negotiating position remains next summer.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

This is a moment that demands calm rather than panic. Baleba is clearly talented, but expecting him to immediately justify a £100m valuation is unrealistic. His disrupted pre-season and knee injury have left him short of sharpness, and the constant noise around Manchester United’s interest cannot be helping his focus.

Fans know Brighton’s model is about nurturing players until the right time comes to sell, and Baleba should be treated no differently. If United want him badly enough, they will still be there next summer or in 2027. What Brighton need now is for Baleba to regain confidence, play regular minutes and show why he was so highly rated in the first place.

There is also a sense of pride among Brighton supporters that their players are so highly sought after by clubs of United’s stature. If Baleba’s head has been turned, the coaching staff will need to steady him and remind him that his best chance of success lies in finishing what he started on the south coast. A strong run of performances would not only help Brighton’s league campaign but strengthen their hand in any future negotiations.

View publisher imprint