There are plenty of players who have been labelled as the next big thing at Manchester United down the years.
While the majority of players fail to live up to expectations, there are exceptions to the rule. But regardless of how many highly-rated players made the grade or not, clubs like Manchester United will always be looking to stay one step ahead of their rivals by hoovering up the best young talent wherever they can: just like Hannibal Mejbri.
The talented midfielder was just 16 years old when United plucked him from AS Monaco back in 2019. The youngster was instantly labelled as the next Kylian Mbappe following his blockbuster Old Trafford switch - and he certainly made a strong early impression behind the scenes.
One source told The Athletic of Mejbri back in 2020: "He is composed, can go past a player and break a line. He actually takes the p*** sometimes against players a couple of years older than him. He'll feint to strike then drag it and shoot the other way."
But unfortunately for the 20-year-old, that raw talent and technical ability has so far failed to translate into a meaningful run in the Manchester United first-team.
The Tunisian international did catch the eye briefly with a full-blooded cameo against Liverpool at the end of last season, but the Old Trafford hierarchy decided that a stint on loan in the Championship would be best for the youngster's development this term.
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Mejbri has impressed during his spell at Birmingham City and could yet, in time, return to Manchester United and challenge for a first-team berth. Blues head coach John Eustace branded the midfield maestro as "unplayable" earlier this season and claimed that Mejbri was a £20million player after watching the youngster net his first-ever senior goal.
Eustace said: “He [Mejbri] was fantastic, his energy, all-round performance was a different class. A 20-year-old boy, first loan you are going to get dips in form, tired legs, which I think we have seen this season.
“But tonight he was back at his best. He came on at half time last week, was instrumental in us turning the game around. It’s all part of having a first-time loan player, you take with the highs and the lows but tonight he was unplayable.”
In total, Mejbri clocked up 38 appearances for Birmingham in the Championship, netting just the solitary goal and registering five assists. Birmingham ended the season in 17th place.
It remains to be seen whether Mejbri or fellow United loanee Amad will be given a chance to stake a claim for a first-team spot next season.
Like Mejbri, Amad has flourished in the Championship for Sunderland and played a crucial role in helping the Black Cats pinch a play-off spot on the final day of the season.
