Carlos Baleba has caused a stir by naming Paul Pogba as his football idol after completing his move to Manchester United. The midfielder's arrival at Old Trafford was officially confirmed on Tuesday, moving from Brighton in a deal worth up to £70million. He has signed a five-year contract with the option to extend by an additional 12 months.
Idol admission
After his move to United was announced, Baleba answered a few quick-fire questions to give supporters the chance to get to know him straight away. At one point, he was asked about his footballing idol and caused a stir by naming a former Red Devils star, saying: "When I was younger, my football idol was Paul Pogba."
It's not the first time that Baleba has spoken about the talented Frenchman, who remains United's record signing but largely failed to deliver the goods at Old Trafford. He previously admitted that Pogba was a key influence for him when he was a teenager at Lille, saying in 2022: "I had a lot of idols that I watched on TV, especially in midfield. Paul Pogba at first, Kevin De Bruyne at second, and Thiago Alcantara at third. I watched them, I tried to imitate what they did. I never had any other dream than football."
Injury and return timeline
Baleba won't be available to make his debut against Ipswich Town this weekend as he is recovering from an ankle injury sustained in pre-season with Brighton. He is likely to be sidelined until the middle of September, which could see him return in the Manchester derby. However, there is also a chance that he might not be ready until after the international break in October.
Hoping to fare better than Pogba
Baleba will certainly be hoping to fare better than Pogba as a United player over the coming years. The former academy product returned to Old Trafford in 2016 in a move that rocked the football world. He was tipped as United's saviour after years of steady decline, but it all went spectacularly wrong. The midfielder showed glimpses of quality but never had the consistency to make himself a club legend, eventually returning to Juventus on a free transfer.
United will be desperate to steer Baleba on a different path, with the midfielder having been signed as part of a rebuild in the engine room alongside Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos.
Baleba's first words as a United player
Speaking immediately after his move was confirmed, Baleba said: "It is an incredible feeling to join the club of my dreams. Playing at Old Trafford is always special but the opportunity to do so as a Manchester United player will be a real honour. I cannot wait to work with Michael Carrick; his experience and knowledge of the game make him the perfect coach to help me to reach the highest level. The ambition of everyone at the club is extremely clear, the future is hugely exciting, and I am determined to play my part in delivering the success that we are capable of together."
