Man Utd Get First Verdict on Carlos Baleba After Long-Awaited Debut

According to a report by footballTransfers on Sunday October 11, 2026, Manchester United have been told that Carlos Baleba’s long-awaited debut was one of the few positives from their 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford.

United took the lead through Bryan Mbeumo in the 73rd minute, but their advantage grew when Tottenham substitute Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off for headbutting Luke Shaw.

Despite having an extra player, Michael Carrick’s side struggled to control the game and dropped deeper instead of pushing for a second goal.

Tottenham punished them in stoppage time. Dominic Solanke rose to meet Sandro Tonali’s cross and headed home in the second minute of added time, with Lisandro Martínez unable to prevent him from connecting.

The late equaliser left United supporters frustrated, and the home side were booed at full time.

It was the second consecutive Premier League match at Old Trafford in which United failed to beat a team reduced to ten men. Manchester City had also won there in September after Phil Foden was sent off, with Erling Haaland scoring the decisive goal.

Baleba, who came on in the second half, nevertheless earned praise for adding energy and composure to United’s midfield. Match ratings from several outlets placed the 22-year-old between five and seven out of 10.

BBC Sport’s Simon Stone gave him a five, noting that his arrival lifted the crowd and that he made several tackles. The Daily Mail’s Chris Wheeler awarded him a six, saying United looked better with the midfielder on the pitch.

Manchester Evening News reporter Tyrone Marshall gave Baleba a seven, highlighting his energetic start and calmness under pressure.

Other assessments were similarly positive. GOAL praised the energy he brought during the final half-hour, while the Daily Express pointed to a well-weighted pass that released Mbeumo late in the game.

Baleba joined United from Brighton in August for a reported €75.9 million (£64.3 million). He will hope to build on his first appearance when United travel to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, followed by a league trip to Leeds next Sunday.

United have won only two of their first eight matches of the 2026–27 campaign and sit 12th in the Premier League. With results falling short of expectations, Baleba’s promising introduction could offer the team a welcome source of encouragement.

Juristnews feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com