Manchester United spent £9m on Hannibal Mejbri last summer when he joined from AS Monaco (via GOAL), so we’re pretty happy to hear Neil Ryan has ‘high hopes’ for the youngster.
It was a huge amount to pay for the kid, 17, but he has gone on to help the academy’s under-18s side to reach the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup. A competition United last won in 2011 when the team featured Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Ravel Morrison.
U18’s manager Ryan has praised Mejbri for his work ethic and lovely character.
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Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Ryan said: “He comes with a high reputation, good player, lovely character, good kid.
“He’s working very hard and like every young kid in the club, he is learning still and we are seeing some really positive things from him on the pitch.
“He is part of a group of boys who were trying to push on and develop. They are all at stages in their career and it’s not just him. It’s a group of 28-30 players. He is one of a number of boys we have high hopes for.
“It’s a new generation and it’s our job to make sure the legacy of the Busby Babes and the Class of 92, of the likes of Norman Whiteside and Mark Hughes, the great players who came through in the 80s at this club, and up to Danny Welbeck, Jonny Evans and Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and so on, a lot of the boys who are pushing on, they are not forgotten about.
“That’s our job it’s to follow in the footsteps of these great players and our job as coaches is to follow in the footsteps of the great coaches previously.”
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United’s U18s were scheduled to face Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup semi-finals, but the fixture has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The FA Cup (seniors) could be concluded in October, running into next season’s schedule, as reported this week by the Mirror.
Mason Greenwood and Brandon Williams should give Mejbri and others inspiration to kick on and work harder. They are both proof that the manager will give opportunities to youth as long as they impress, which is something we like to see as United fans.
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