Story perspectives

Man United likely starts Baleba vs Tottenham after £70m move

By Drooid · Oct 9, 2026, 3:54 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Manchester United may start Cameroonian midfielder Carlos Baleba against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
United signed Baleba from Brighton on 25 August for £70 million plus $6.8 million in add-ons.
Baleba arrived with an ankle injury, missed his Premier League debut and was in the Fulham squad on 20 September.
Former captain Paul Ince praised Baleba’s impact yet warned that Carrick’s choices could destabilise the team.

History

Historical Context

In 2003, Manchester United broke the British transfer record by signing Rio Ferdinand from Leeds United for £30 million, bolstering their defense. The deal, negotiated by Sir Alex Ferguson and Leeds chairman Ken Bates, generated £30 million revenue and sparked a league-wide spending surge. Similarly, United’s 2024 acquisition of Cameroonian midfielder Carlos Baleba from Brighton for £70 million plus $6.8 million in add-ons mirrors that aggressive spending despite his ankle injury. These high-profile signings illustrate United’s strategy of investing heavily to regain dominance, a pattern that pressures manager Michael Carrick to balance squad depth.

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Story summary

Manchester United may start Cameroonian midfielder Carlos Baleba against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
United signed Baleba from Brighton on 25 August for £70 million plus $6.8 million in add-ons.
Baleba arrived with an ankle injury, missed his Premier League debut and was in the Fulham squad on 20 September.
Former captain Paul Ince praised Baleba’s impact yet warned that Carrick’s choices could destabilise the team.

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