In recent years, Manchester United’s academy has been a shining light in a rather dull period of time, where the first team have failed to win a trophy since 2017 and players have often signed for the club for all of the wrong reasons.
One of those bright stars in the academy who has made quite a name for himself is 19-year-old Hannibal Mejbri.
Mejbri, who bears his first name, Hannibal, on the back of his shirt, is currently on loan at Championship club Birmingham City and is loving life in the Midlands.
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“I need to play some games, that’s why I came on loan, get some experience, it’s always good to be part of a team that is playing in the Championship,” he told Birmingham Live.
Hannibal continued: “It is very different to Manchester United, we play different football but it’s good, I am here to learn, it’s more defensive, more box to box, so I have to use it to get ready for United.”
So far under manager John Eustace, Hannibal has only featured five times, playing a total of 96 minutes; however, he believes this is what will shape him for his future.
The midfielder said: “I just want to play games because that’s how we learn, that’s how we improve, when we play games, when we are around the team and come on, 30 or 20 minutes, that’s how we learn to manage the game, we win some experience.
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“I am very patient; I wait for my time and hopefully I will be ready when I get my chance.”
The Championship is often talked about as one of the most physical leagues in football, but for those who have watched Hannibal in the United youth sides, the Tunisian isn’t one to shirk away from a challenge.
On the league’s toughness, he said: “Everyone told me it’s physical and as you can see I am not the biggest guy. I think I can manage to win some duels and win some fouls. It is hard but I will get used to it.”
One player that Hannibal regularly played with at United was James Garner, who enjoyed quite a successful loan spell last season in the Championship with newly promoted Nottingham Forest.
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Although Garner was sold on a permanent deal earlier this summer to Everton, Hannibal does see the England international as an inspiration.
“As we saw with James Garner who went to Everton, he did a good season in the Championship, so I need to do the same and maybe go next year and win my place at United.”
Hannibal’s long-term aspirations are to certainly step out at Old Trafford in red, and the former Monaco academy man did say that going out on loan was a decision pushed onto him by those at United.
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He said: “I didn’t play a lot in pre-season but they (United) told me I am one for the future at United, that I need to work hard, go and gain some game-time at Birmingham, learn championship football.”
At his parent club, Hannibal is often in contact with former player and current technical director Darren Fletcher.
Hannibal told Birmingham Live: “I speak to the staff there regularly, every game, I speak a lot with Fletch (Fletcher) because he is British and he knows what it is to be part of the academy so it is easier to speak to him but I can speak to the manager any time.”
For United, it isn’t just Hannibal gaining invaluable experience in England’s second division currently, with winger Amad Diallo and full-back’s Ethan Laird and Alvaro Fernandez all on loan at Sunderland, QPR and Preston North End.
Topics: Manchester United, Birmingham City
Aadam Haladh