Hannibal Mejbri missed out on selection for Sevilla’s recent match against Getafe, indicating a probable return to Manchester United this summer.
Although Everton expressed interest in him during the January transfer window, Mejbri opted to join Sevilla on loan for the remainder of the season.
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The agreement allowed the Spaniards to potentially secure his permanent signature for £17 million, while United implemented a buy-back clause to anticipate this possibility.
Nevertheless, Hannibal has only played for under 90 minutes across four matches for Sevilla and was omitted from their squad last Saturday, indicating a probable comeback to Manchester.
The youngster’s loan spell has not unfolded as anticipated, marked by a peculiar beginning when Sevilla declared him ineligible for selection just over a week after his arrival.
“After being with him, talking to him and having seen his first minutes in Girona, we are going to give him the necessary space to understand where he is, that he is at Sevilla and what it means,” manager Quique Sánchez Flores said.
“He has to know where he is and we want to see him. We have spoken with him and we believe that he has to have some time to learn, we wanted to give him space, time for him to see things from the outside and then he will return to the squad.”
Following those remarks, Sevilla reversed course and included Hannibal in their squad for the Osasuna match, yet his participation has been limited in the ensuing weeks.
Despite rumors in the Spanish media of a disagreement involving Hannibal and a teammate, Sevilla’s president downplayed the situation, portraying him as a ‘remarkable professional’.
Hannibal spent the previous season on loan with Birmingham in the Championship, where staff at St. Andrew’s praised his personality and character.
According to United sources, Hannibal has consistently exhibited a positive demeanor and is known for staying late to undertake additional gym work on most days.
For Sevilla to secure Hannibal’s permanent signing, significant changes would be necessary, and he appears destined to return to United this summer before a decision on his future is made.
Sources indicated there was ‘considerable interest’ in both loan and permanent deals for Hannibal last summer, but the choice was made to retain him within Erik ten Hag’s squad.
Hannibal has featured in 13 matches for United and is under contract until the summer of 2025.
