Midfielder was a major target for United during the summer but the club balked at his £100m price tag
Carlos Baleba has rejected suggestions that interest from Manchester United in the summer has affected his form, after the midfielder experienced a very slow start to the season with Brighton.
The Brighton midfielder was a major target for United during the summer as Ruben Amorim sought to strengthen his options in central midfield. Talks were held but quickly stalled, with Brighton holding firm on a valuation understood to be close to £100m. United ultimately walked away.
Since then, Brighton have made a decent start to the campaign but Baleba has struggled to match the levels he set last season. He has completed 90 minutes only once in the league and has been substituted at half-time on several occasions.
“I don’t think it affected me negatively, but I had a lot of pressure on me,” Baleba said. “When I started this season, I wanted to show the same performances as last season.”
The 21-year-old believes instead that he placed too much of an expectation on himself after a strong campaign last term.
“Did I put too much pressure on myself? Yes, I think so,” said the Cameroonian. “But I think it’s good. It’s good for me, because now I have to get through this slightly stressful period, get back on the horse and continue working hard. Every day I try to work hard and get back to my level.”
