Former Manchester United academy product Hannibal Mejbri is playing a key role in Burnley FC’s promotion push this season.
The Tunisian signed for United’s youth team in 2019 for a huge fee of around €5 million.
Hannibal would go on to make 13 appearances for the senior side and scored one goal against Brighton and Hove Albion in September 2023.
In the second half of last season, he would endure an unsuccessful loan period at Sevilla, where he barely played, before being permanently sold to Burnley in the summer.
The Tunisia international has played a key role as the Clarets sit third in the Championship table, three points off second placed Sheffield United. They have also incredibly only lost two out of 32 matches and conceded just nine goals.
Hannibal has played in 26 of the matches and has provided two assists from midfield.
He recently sparkled against Premier League side Southampton in the FA Cup when he provided an assist for Marcus Edwards to score a late winner, sending the Turf Moor side into the fifth round.
Hannibal put in a strong performance in a 2-0 victory over Watford just a couple of days ago, completing 96% of his passes and providing one key pass in the match.
The 21 year old has always had a controversial side however, and this part of him has not abated as he goaded Leeds United fans in September after leaving the pitch and celebrating being 1-0 up at Elland Road.
He has also been known to love a tackle and he was sent off at home to Stoke City on New Year’s Day.
In a rush of blood to the head, he stamped on a Stoke player’s chest when it seemed easier to avoid the player entirely, as he fell to the ground.
As a result, his boss Scott Parker tore into the player after the match and claimed, “he’s let us down today. He’s let the team down, he’s let me down, he’s let the staff down.”
Burnley fans have certainly taken to him however and his performance early on in the season in the derby against Blackburn Rovers drew praise from numerous sectors of the fanbase.
He has been described as a player with “bags of potential” and that he is turning into a bit of a “fan favourite”.
Should Burnley secure automatic promotion or go up via the playoffs, Hannibal may get a chance to show Old Trafford exactly what they have been missing sooner rather than later.
Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
