Nemanja Matic has hailed ‘fantastic’ Hannibal Mejbri and says the Manchester United youngster can thrive under Erik ten Hag next campaign.
Mejbri, 19, has been a regular at the club’s first-team training since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations at the start of the year.
The Tunisia international has been included in four of Ralf Rangnick’s last seven matchday squads and will hope to kick on next season under incoming manager Ten Hag.
Mejbri made his second senior appearance for the Red Devils against Liverpool last month and received plenty praise for his combative cameo by club legend Gary Neville.
Matic, who has announced he will leave Old Trafford at the end of the season, is a big admirer of Mejbri and wants to see him get more minutes under Ten Hag.
‘I have to say that Hannibal is a fantastic player and a great character,’ Matic told United’s official website. ‘The talent he has, he needs to use that. I really want to see him in the future and how he will grow.
‘I hope to see him get more minutes. I think that every time I see him in training, he surprises me with his quality, he’s still young, but I’m very excited. ‘I really want to see how he’s growing and improving.’
Mejbri was named Manchester United’s U23 Player of the Year last season and is also rated highly by coaches at Manchester United.
Matic, meanwhile, has sent a parting message to United’s supporters as he prepares to make his last appearance for the club. The Serbian midfielder has spent five years at Old Trafford, making 189 appearances in all competitions.
‘I just want to say thank you for the fantastic support,’ Matic said. ‘I know that we have had a couple of difficult seasons but I just want the fans to know that, at the training ground, we’re doing our best, and United will come back, for sure.
‘It’s going to take some time but United will be back. Keep supporting the team. Stay together.
‘I will miss players but not only players, also the staff around the players: the kit man, the physios, the doctors. Everyone. I don’t want to forget someone.
‘United has some fantastic people that are working for the club. They are behind the cameras but they are very important for the team. They really like the club and that’s good.
‘I’m really happy that I had the opportunity to work with them and, for sure, they will be my friends forever.’
