Rooney backs £70m Baleba signing to spark midfield competition at Man United

Manchester United have signed midfielder Carlos Baleba from Brighton & Hove Albion in a deal worth up to £70million, with the Cameroonian penning a five-year contract that includes an option to extend for a further 12 months.

Baleba becomes the third midfielder United have added to their ranks this summer, joining Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos in bolstering the centre of the park ahead of the new season.

Wayne Rooney, speaking on his podcast, offered an enthusiastic endorsement of the signing despite having publicly called for a different type of player just a week earlier. “I really like him, I think he’s a really good signing,” the former United captain said. “We need another midfield player with a bit of physicality and I know he’s not six-foot-four or whatever. But he covers the ground really well, he’s aggressive, he takes the ball, and is what we need. He’s a very good player who will improve the team massively.”

Rooney also highlighted the competitive dynamic Baleba’s arrival creates alongside Tielemans, Santos and academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo. “It will be interesting with Tielemans, Santos and Mainoo, but this is what it should be. Competition for places. If you don’t play well, you don’t play.”

The endorsement is a notable shift from Rooney’s position last week, when he argued United needed a taller, more physically imposing midfielder — specifically citing the profile of Aston Villa’s Amadou Onana as the type of player the club should pursue. Baleba, while athletic and aggressive in the press, does not fit that mould.

United’s director of football Jason Wilcox defended the club’s decision, framing Baleba as a complementary rather than like-for-like addition. “Carlos is an elite midfielder with immense potential to develop further,” Wilcox said. “He brings a unique combination of qualities that will really complement our squad. We are delighted to further strengthen our midfield with the addition of another established senior international with a proven track record of performing in the Premier League.”

Wilcox added that Baleba’s own desire to move to Old Trafford was a factor in completing the deal. “Carlos’ determination to join Manchester United and his confidence that we will achieve our shared ambitions mean that he is the perfect signing as we continue to build a dynamic and entertaining team ready to compete across multiple competitions.”