Tunisia and Manchester United youngster Hannibal Mejbri has made the decision to withdraw from the Africa Cup of Nations squad in order to focus on his career development. This surprising omission from the squad was not influenced by his limited playing time at United this season. According to Tunisia boss Jalel Kadri, Mejbri personally requested to be left out of the tournament so that he could prioritize his development during this crucial stage of his career.
Despite only making one start in the Premier League this season, Mejbri has shown promise and potential. He recently made a lively cameo off the bench in Manchester United’s victory over Aston Villa on Boxing Day. However, it appears that he will be leaving the club on loan when the transfer window opens. Several top-flight clubs, including Sevilla, Lyon, and Freiburg, have expressed interest in signing him on loan.
The reason behind Mejbri’s decision to withdraw from the Africa Cup of Nations squad is to ensure that he is available for his potential loan move in January and February. He believes that regular game time at a top-level club is crucial for his development. Manchester United also values Mejbri highly and sees another loan as the ideal next step for him. Before leaving for his six-month loan, Mejbri is expected to sign a contract extension with the club.
Mejbri had a successful loan spell with Birmingham City in the Championship last season. However, moving to clubs like Sevilla, Lyon, or Freiburg would represent a significant step up for him. He will carefully assess the offers from these clubs before making a decision on his destination.
In other Africa Cup of Nations news, Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has been selected in Cameroon’s squad for the tournament. Despite previous doubts over his participation due to a falling out with manager Rigobert Song, Onana has decided to return to the national team. This means that he could potentially miss up to six games for Manchester United, with Altay Bayindir expected to step up in his absence.
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