Manchester United fans were left surprised this week after news broke that the club had made a move to sign Brighton’s rising star Carlos Baleba. And Rio Ferdinand’s reaction? Just three cheeky words: “Who’s a Baleba???”
The former Manchester United captain made the comment on social media, and it instantly caught the attention of fans and pundits. While many thought it was a funny play on words, possibly mimicking the phrase “Who’s a believer?”, others saw it as Ferdinand throwing light on how unknown Baleba was just a year ago.
Carlos Baleba, a 20-year-old midfielder from Cameroon, had an excellent season with Brighton last year. He’s now seen as one of the best young midfielders in the Premier League. But even with that success, Manchester United’s pursuit of him may not be realistic.
Brighton reportedly has no plans to sell Baleba this summer. The club believes his value will only grow, and they’re looking to keep him at least until next season. Sources say they’ve even priced him at a staggering £100 million.
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That hasn’t stopped Manchester United from trying. According to insider reports, the Red Devils reached out to Baleba’s camp this week to check if a transfer is possible. But the response from Brighton has been firm: not now.
Baleba still has three years left on his current contract. Brighton is known for turning young, unknown players into stars, and then selling them for huge fees. Moises Caicedo, who joined Chelsea last year for £115 million, is the perfect example.
Manchester United, meanwhile, are focused on other big moves. They are close to finalizing a deal for Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig. If they land the striker, spending over £70 million, their chances of affording Baleba drop sharply.
Manager Ruben Amorim has made it clear: his top priority is a striker. He’s already brought in Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, spending over £120 million in total. But he still wants a solid midfielder, someone who can control the game in a number six role. Baleba fits that profile perfectly.
United need midfielders who are quick, strong, and smart off the ball. Last season, Kobbie Mainoo, Casemiro, and Manuel Ugarte handled those roles. But Amorim wants upgrades. He sees Baleba as a long-term solution.
Despite the rumours, Baleba himself has remained calm. In a recent interview, he said:
“If they can help me, I’ll accept that help to push forward and develop. So, I just work to help my team and for myself, to progress for the future. In return, everyone who helps me wants me to go to the highest level. And if there are big clubs who want me, it’s not something that worries me or gets me excited. I just need to work hard and keep a cool head.”
That calm attitude might be why so many big clubs want him. But Brighton want to wait. Their plan is to keep Baleba this year and only consider offers next summer, when his value could even surpass Caicedo’s.
Rio Ferdinand’s post might sound dismissive, but sources close to him say he’s actually a big supporter of Manchester United’s new direction. He believes that with the right signings, the club can move up from last season’s 15th-place finish to a top 8 spot.
Ferdinand said in a recent interview:
“Revisit this if we get one or two more signings and I might change my answer.”
That shows hope, but also doubt. Ferdinand knows it will take more than just a few signings to bring United back to the top. A player like Baleba could help, but the financial reality might make it impossible right now.
Still, Manchester United’s interest in Baleba is real. And it shows that the club is looking to build a younger, faster, smarter midfield. The question is: can they afford to chase multiple £100M dreams in one window?
For now, fans will have to wait. But the buzz around Carlos Baleba isn’t going away any time soon. He may not be a household name yet, but if he keeps improving, everyone will know who Baleba is.
Whether or not Manchester United signs him this summer, one thing is clear: they believe.
