Manchester United have become ‘angry’ and frustrated about how Hannibal Mejbri seems to have been poorly treated at Sevilla, with the midfielder struggling to get playing time this season.
Mejbri only played in five Premier League matches under Erik ten Hag in the first part of the season and then moved to Sevilla in January hoping to get more game time in one of Europe’s top leagues.
But Mejbri has only played four times in La Liga, which adds up to just 89 minutes, under former Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores and the 21-year-old was reportedly involved in a training ground bust-up shortly after joining.
After Mejbri was left out of Sevilla’s squad for their Copa del Rey match against Atletico Madrid, Flores tried to explain his decision by saying, ‘He has to understand what the club is’, and he has hardly played since.
Mejbri was given a rare start in the team’s 3-2 win over Real Sociedad earlier this month but the Tunisia international seemed to be struggling, repeatedly losing the ball, and was taken off after just 53 minutes.
According to Spanish outlet AS, Sevilla have ‘angered’ United and the disastrous loan could ’cause a problem’ when the club try to attract players from the Premier League in the future, with Tottenham’s Alejo Veliz experiencing similar problems.
It’s claimed Mejbri’s severe lack of playing time at Sevilla ‘does not sit well at all’ with Old Trafford chiefs, especially given the youngster could have joined several English clubs instead in January.
Reports earlier this month suggested Mejbri’s entourage were ‘in disbelief’ about the player’s situation and ‘could not believe’ how little he had featured in Flores’ plans in recent weeks.
There are worries that Mejbri’s confidence has taken a serious hit and there’s a fear that his development may have actually regressed since leaving Manchester United on loan in the winter.
Sevilla have an €18m (£15m) option to buy Mejbri outright but, unsurprisingly, the club have no intention of making the Tunisian’s switch permanent when his loan deal expires.
Mejbri, a former France Under-17 international, signed a new contract with United before joining Sevilla on loan, keeping him at Old Trafford until 2025.
Ten Hag has spoken highly of Mejbri and said the young midfielder was setting an example to the rest of United’s squad after he made consecutive starts for the first time back in September.
‘I think he gives a very good message to the rest of the squad that this is the demand, this has to be the standard when you are playing in a position, what you have to bring to the team, to get success,’ Ten Hag told reporters at the time.
‘Especially when you’re playing against possession-based teams; he is a really good fit, to give a good contribution to a good performance and to the result. I don’t think [his adaptation has been] that quick.
'Before I entered here, he was already in the first team, he made his debut. Last year he was on loan and this year he is making progress.'
'So that’s why he deserved an opportunity and I think now he’s taking that opportunity. Every time he has to improve and he had to give the evidence that he is worthy of playing. But that counts for everyone, every player in the squad.'
'There are situations where players are ahead, but it’s good that the internal competition is there and hopefully it gives other players a push that they have to bring more, they have to add more. Because he did a great job for the team, he really contributed to our levels in the last two games.'
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