United loanee’s club slammed for mistreatment of player who’s ‘lost half a year in his career’

Hannibal Mejbri will be returning to Manchester United in the coming weeks no better off than when he departed on loan in January.

The Tunisian bid farewell to Old Trafford in the winter in hopes of increasing his senior experience with a half-season loan spell at Sevilla. However, it’s safe to say things haven’t gone the way he or United would’ve hoped.

Hannibal, 21, has featured only six times for the La Liga outfit since joining up with Quique Sanchez Flores and the squad. Only one of those appearances has come from the offset, which also marked his longest cameo on the pitch after he was withdrawn around the 53-minute mark against Real Sociedad in March.

He proceeded to be an unused substitute for five of the subsequent six games, being omitted from the teamsheet entirely for Sevilla’s clash with Getafe on March 30. He has been granted just 11 minutes on the pitch this calendar year through two separate outings.

Given that Hannibal turned down an approach from Everton to test his resolve in Spain, United should’ve perhaps intervened to ensure their academy graduate was overseeing a move that would best aid his development. Whatever talks were held with Sevilla, along with any promises made over his role, were clearly futile in hindsight.

Hannibal’s loan move has been a waste of time for all parties

As the midfielder gears up for his homecoming to England, local press outlet Diario de Seville has reported on his bizarre situation, claiming that Hannibal has been ‘systematically ignored’ by the club’s hierarchy and has consequently ‘lost half a year in his career’.

His contract with United expires in 2025, although all signs are pointing towards a permanent exit when the window opens.