Brighton star Carlos Baleba appeared to reference his failed transfer to Manchester United in a deleted social media put up on Saturday.
The highly-rated midfielder took to Instagram hours earlier than the Seagulls’ journey to Previous Trafford and shared a graphic selling the fixture.
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His caption learn: ‘Coming to Previous Trafford’ – and was accompanied by a laughing face emoji.
Baleba deleted the put up inside minutes and reposted it with out the caption, however not earlier than screenshots of the unique message circulated on social media.
The 21-year-old was heavily-linked with a transfer to the Purple Devils throughout the summer time switch window.
Man United registered their curiosity in Baleba however backed down as soon as Brighton demanded £115million.
talkSPORT understands the Seagulls anticipate the Cameroonian to fetch an even bigger charge than the club-record £115m Chelsea paid for Moises Caicedo once they ultimately resolve to promote.
That was after an distinctive 2024/25 season, however then Baleba made a noticeably sluggish begin to the present marketing campaign.
He has been substituted earlier than the second-half a number of instances and supervisor Fabian Hurzeler even admitted the switch hypothesis had turned Baleba’s head.
“For positive, when a younger boy reads there’s curiosity from Manchester United with a giant, huge supply, it’d have an effect on him deep, deep down,” the Brighton supervisor stated in September.
“That’s additionally a part of the event to know that while you play effectively, there comes a giant supply, there comes a giant membership who desires to have him.
“However then to maintain pushing, to be humble, keep right here in Brighton, and attempt to make the subsequent step with the crew and that’s one thing we have now to maintain on working with him.
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“I can’t provide you with a transparent reply if it’s actually affected him or not. However for positive, he’s a younger boy and we have to perceive he’s not a machine that if you happen to click on on then he at all times runs and off then he stops.
“We have to perceive his emotions, his feelings, the place he comes from, and that’s our accountability.”
Baleba returned to kind throughout the 2-1 win over Newcastle final weekend.
“I noticed a Carlos Baleba who stepped up,” Hurzeler stated earlier than the Man United conflict.
“These had been good actions and good behaviours he confirmed, however he has to make habits out of these good behaviours.
“That is the subsequent step in his growth, to carry consistency to his efficiency.”