Manchester United sold Hannibal Mejbri to Burnley for £9million in the summer transfer window, with the midfielder having been involved in a training-ground skirmish
Former Manchester United midfielder Hannibal Mejbri has been told that he ‘let his team’ down after receiving a red card for Burnley.
Hannibal, 21, was sent off for a stamp on Stoke’s Junior Tchamadeu late in the two team’s 0-0 draw in the Championship. The ex-United star will now serve a three-match ban for violent conduct, having only been on the pitch for 18 minutes.
A win would’ve taken Burnley to within a point of league leaders Leeds, but Scott Parker’s side were unable to find a goal in front of the baying home crowd at Turf Moor. Clarets boss Parker took aim at the Tunisia international, who joined Burnley from United in August for £9million.
“He’s let us down today,” Parker admitted post-match. “He’s let the team down, he’s let myself down, he’s let the staff down. He understands that.
“He’s devastated but I will deal with him and deal with that situation. But he’s a young player still in development. He’s a player that is always on the line and I would never want to take that out of him because that makes him the player he is. But today he’s stepped over that line and we will deal with it, show where he’s gone wrong and I will help him through that.”
Hannibal’s temperament has been questioned throughout his young career, having been signed by United from Monaco in 2019. The 21-year-old was named as being part of a training-ground bust-up with United team-mate Alex Telles in 2022, forcing interim boss Ralf Rangnick to end a session early.
Hannibal’s last competitive appearance for United came during an FA Cup tie at Wigan in January 2024. He was then loaned out to relegation-threatened Sevilla, where he failed to establish himself as a regular, receiving two yellow cards in his six appearances, five of which came from the bench.
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Parker was full of praise of Hannibal’s display in Burnley’s recent 2-1 win at home to Watford, saying: “I thought Hannibal did exceptionally well. We decided to play him in a different position and he brought real energy and discipline to his performance. I thought he was superb coming in off the sides of the pitch.
“It’s probably not his natural position but he was a driving force for us, so full credit to him. I’ve said it many times, it can sometimes be very difficult for a player when you’re not having minutes, but it’s about being ready when the opportunity comes and Hannibal was every bit of that.”
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