Carlos Baleba is being targeted by Manchester United this summer, but the £100million-rated Brighton midfielder could be in for a rude awakening if he moves to Old Trafford
Manchester United are pushing to secure a sensational £100million deal for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba. With his new-look £200m front three now in place, manager Ruben Amorim now wants a steely midfielder to shore things up in the centre of the park and protect the back line – and Baleba is top of the club’s shortlist.
The Cameroon international has been quietly, but consistently, turning heads since stepping into Moises Caicedo’s sizable shoes following the Ecuadorian’s mega-money move to Chelsea in 2023. As a result, Brighton have no intention of selling him amid reports it will take a nine-figure sum to simply bring them to the negotiating table.
United know prising Baleba from Brighton will be no easy task, but have nonetheless opened talks with the Seagulls to test their resolve. Meeting the asking price would make the 21-year-old the most expensive signing in the club’s history – and mark one of the costliest deals the sport has ever seen.
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But it won’t be all sunshine and rainbows after that. In fact, Baleba will have to be on his best behaviour, with four strict rules – implemented by Amorim – to adhere to. The Portuguese boss has introduced these measures to raise standards at Old Trafford after a disappointing first season at the helm – one plagued by poor form and ill-discipline. Here’s what the young midfielder would face:
Ban on using international breaks as holidays
Players are prohibited from treating international breaks as vacation time. This rule came after incidents like Marcus Rashford and Casemiro jetting off to the US for leisure when not selected for national duty.
Amorim emphasised setting club standards for rest, such as limiting travel or days off. “We as a club have to set the standards and manage that,” he said of the changes.
“It’s my decision if they can have five days, or three days, or three days to rest and you cannot fly. This is something that us as a club have to decide. So this must be started in the club, with us and me being responsible in that area.”
Ban on food in the dressing room
To prioritise physical fitness, Amorim has outlawed food in the dressing room on matchdays. This is part of his broader push to maintain elite conditioning and uphold higher professional standards within the squad.
News of the ban came after Amorim spoke of the importance of his team being in peak physical condition to “run like mad dogs” and compete with the very best in the Premier League.
“You can do a starting line-up with the best players on the planet, without running they also won’t win,” he said in December last year. “We have to run like mad dogs, if not we won’t win.”
Losing team in training must pick up equipment
In a bid to foster accountability and competition, the losing side in training sessions is now required to collect all the equipment used that day. This rule is designed to instil discipline and motivation ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Speaking about the new rule, United youngster Toby Collyer told The Athletic: “Everyone wants to be the team that wins. You don’t have to get the gear in then. It’s a jeopardy if you lose! All the other teams have to get the gear in.”
Diogo Dalot noted that pre-season standards have risen compared to last year, hinting earlier this month that the new rule may be achieving its intended impact. “If you want to be in Manchester United, you need to match some standards. If you can’t match them, it’s not a place for you. The message is really clear,” the Portugal defender said.
Ban on complex instructions from coaches
One of Amorim’s first major changes was banning coaches from delivering overly complicated instructions, insisting everything be simplified before reaching the players. The aim: to streamline communication and sharpen focus.
Despite wanting to instil the same fluid, intricate, high-octane style his Sporting CP side mastered, the 40-year-old is taking a more refined approach to conveying messages. This is designed to ensure players act instinctively on the pitch, without being bogged down by overthinking.
Amorim believes clarity breeds confidence – and that player who understands their roles implicitly will execute them with far greater precision under pressure.
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