Brighton’s Manager Acknowledges Carlos Baleba’s Discomfort Due to Manchester United Interest

Brighton’s head coach Fabian Hurzeler has recognized that midfielder Carlos Baleba has been feeling unsettled due to the attention from Manchester United.

United’s Pursuit of Baleba

Manchester United made a move to acquire Baleba during the summer transfer window, but Brighton successfully deterred the deal by setting a high asking price for the young talent.

Impact on Performance

Baleba was substituted in during Saturday’s match against Bournemouth, with Hurzeler revealing that the ongoing speculation regarding his future has impacted his performance levels.

Hurzeler’s Insights

“I believe it’s typical for a young athlete when the media creates buzz around them,” stated the Brighton manager. “Handling this kind of attention isn’t straightforward for him. Hence, we must provide him with time and support to help him return to top performance.”

“We must acknowledge that young players may not consistently display the form we expect. It is our duty to assist them during such times.”

“Young individuals are often influenced by external factors, especially when they encounter these discussions, whether accurate or not. It’s merely noise that we could do without.”