Why signing all-action Baleba could be a masterstroke by Man Utd

Following a lengthy pursuit of Carlos Baleba, Manchester United have finally secured the services of the gifted Cameroonian midfielder.

Snapped up for a hefty initial £65 million from Brighton & Hove Albion, where he proved his class regularly and established himself as one of the Premier League’s elite young midfielders, this is a signing that fits perfectly with the club’s new direction.

Although he’s ready to hit the ground running, at 22, Baleba vitally has huge scope for improvement, which is a massive positive and makes the fee good value for money.

Commanding, authoritative, fearless and a real presence to be reckoned with, he brings a profile United has sorely lacked. A quality operator who contributes in all phases, he brilliantly complements Michael Carrick’s new-look midfield alongside Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, giving the Red Devils variety, balance and solutions for different opponents and game states.

Hearing Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler’s words on his development made for interesting listening, as Carrick will be eager to follow this blueprint to get the best out of him. “Carlos won’t get better if he only gets compliments and claps from outside. I think he will get better if he has a safe environment, but also honest feedback, where he knows what he needs to improve. That’s where we try to support him and make him better,” he told Sky Sports.

“It’s important to be very clear about what you expect from players on the pitch, off the pitch. And it’s important to build relationships where you can criticise or give personal feedback they might not be happy about, but they understand the intention behind it.”

Baleba’s athleticism is the first thing that jumps out, for he’s a powerful progressive carrier who eats up the ground, commits adversaries and finds the free man directly. It also warrants mention how he draws fouls in advantageous areas, facilitates third-man combinations and breaks pressure with long, striding runs. His judgement is impressive for his age too, knowing when to drive upfield with intent, when to carry through pressure to get his team up the pitch or if he needs to play it safe or pinpoint a nearby colleague.

Press resistant and explosive, how he smoothly spins away from foes, dribbles past them or simply outmuscles them using his upper body strength to gain separation is a joy to watch. Once in full flight, he’s almost impossible to stop, as he gives United a crucial avenue to advance into the final third, especially in matches where they need someone to break lines and inject tempo.

“You need the courage to come out with the ball in difficult and risky areas,” Baleba insisted to Sky. “It’s all about the confidence you have in yourself – to want to take the ball in those areas – and playing simple. If you play simple in those areas, you can easily play around the back. If you complicate things technically, you can’t do it.

“It’s about having the bravery to show what you’re capable of. We take risks – and you have to take risks at this level. So having the courage to do it, you can play out the back easily, without losing it.”

While he isn’t a build-up genius, that isn’t what he’ll primarily be asked to do. Even still, he’s a solid passer who recycles possession coherently and changes the angle of attacks nicely, with him able to open different angles and offer a decent level of security.

Factor in his strong character and willingness to take responsibility, and it becomes clear why United pushed so hard to get this deal done. Expect him to make serious strides in his distribution and tactical smarts working under former maestro and now boss Carrick in his quest to become a better technician and controller.

Defensively, Baleba is a dream fit with his energy and intensity, for his athleticism and mobility allow him to cover spaces and jet back swiftly to protect the backline and support teammates in transition. United needed someone like him to accompany Tielemans and Santos, who can get across quickly, delay attacks, dispossess opponents or force errors with assertive tackling and tidy interceptions.

Such a disruptive ball-winning dynamo, who imposes himself physically and is a master recoverer, this, in combination with his speed and sharp anticipation, will allow him to snuff out danger and rapidly get United going forward again.

In pressing and counter-pressing situations, watch for him to bring intensity and intelligence, winning the ball high, wide or centrally, as his mobility and physicality will give United balance, with his counter-pressing notably often leading to chance creation against unsettled defences.

Coaches who have worked with him, including Fabian Hurzeler and Roberto De Zerbi, have repeatedly praised his bravery, intelligence and quality, as the man who drew inspiration from the likes of Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Paul Pogba, Kevin De Bruyne and Thiago Alcantara appears to be exactly what United’s midfield has missed.

For Man Utd, this is another statement piece of business, as Baleba brings athleticism, aggression, progression, defensive range and a unique blend of power and finesse. Ready to elevate this midfield immediately, and with his ceiling, he could become one of the Premier League’s most dominant all-action midfielders.

All the signs point to the capture of Baleba being a masterstroke.