Why Man Utd Really Missed Their Chance to Sign the Season’s Top Pick Instead of Carlos Baleba
Manchester United refreshed their midfield this summer, bringing in Carlos Baleba among others, but they missed out on a player some think might have been even better. Baleba joined from Brighton & Hove Albion for £70 million, becoming United’s fourth signing after Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos, and Karl Darlow.
Baleba adds energy, toughness, and speed to a midfield that really needed it. Fans are excited to see the 22-year-old play, but they’ll have to be patient — Michael Carrick said Baleba is recovering from an ankle injury and might make his debut in the Manchester Derby on September 13.
When healthy, Baleba is considered one of the Premier League’s best defensive midfielders. He earned praise at Brighton for protecting the defense with strong ball-winning skills. Last season, he ranked in the top 13% of midfielders for interceptions and top 16% for recoveries, showing how good he is at breaking up play. United hopes he can bring that same energy to Old Trafford and help control games better in the middle.
However, it turns out that another club, INEOS, almost signed someone maybe even better — Brentford’s Mamadou Sangare. ESPN shared that United kept an eye on Sangare after his impressive season in France’s Ligue 1, but his agent chose to send him to Brentford instead, to make sure he’d get regular playing time.
Brentford spent a club-record £38.5 million to sign the 24-year-old Malian, and it’s already paying off. Sangare has been a key player for Brentford, assisting in a big 3-0 win over Tottenham and playing well against Leeds too. He combines great athleticism, strong ball-carrying skills, and attacking ability, making him an instant hit in the Premier League.
Last season in Ligue 1, Sangare averaged the most defensive actions of any player, and he’s carried that over to England. He ranks in the top 10% for defensive contributions and top 7% for interceptions in the Premier League so far. Sky Sports even called him the “signing of the season.” No wonder United wanted him, but his agent decided Brentford was a better fit.
The Athletic ranked Sangare as the third-best Premier League transfer this summer, just behind Emi Martinez and Bruno Guimaraes. If he keeps playing this well, he could soon move to one of the big six clubs, and his value might double or even triple in the next couple of years.