Carlos Baleba signs for Manchester United: Can the 22-year-old replace Casemiro?

Can Carlos Baleba fill Casemiro's boots at Manchester United? (Image credits – CommonsWikipedia, License Details)

Manchester United have completed the signing of Carlos Baleba from Brighton, adding yet another talented midfielder in Michael Carrick’s midfield.

The Cameroonian international has arrived at Old Trafford in a transfer worth around £70 million, with £65 million to be paid now and a further £5 million in add-ons.

The 22-year-old has signed a five-year contract till 2031 with an option to extend for another year till 2032.

For Man United, adding Baleba isn't just about adding more squad depth but also to fill the void left by the departure of veteran midfielder Casemiro.

Baleba isn't a direct replacement of the Brazilian, and he has quite a different profile. Casemiro is known for his positioning, defensive awareness and physical strength.

Baleba does possess these characteristics but also excels in keeping possession of the ball and his ability to carry the ball forward.

Baleba’s ability to close down spaces between the lines, track opposition runners and recover possession and recycle the ball quickly makes him a perfect fit in Carrick's team, which deploys a two-midfielder formation. His athleticism is also one of his greatest strengths.

During the 2024-25 Premier League season, Baleba was one of only two midfielders recorded at more than 34 km/h speed, and his tackles and interceptions throughout the season ranked joint sixth in the Premier League.

With Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos already signed by Manchester United this summer, after the signing of Baleba, it's clear that the Red Devils have invested heavily to reshape their midfield and provide a balance that gives freedom to the creative playmakers and attackers up front to operate higher up the pitch.

Manchester United need a midfielder to protect the defence, win physical duels and give Bruno Fernandes the liberty to attack further up the pitch.

Baleba is potentially a good signing for Manchester United, but the club must be careful with him. Last season, he struggled with consistency and got injured. He has also suffered an ACL injury during the pre-season due to which he's set to be sidelined for a prolonged period of time.

Therefore, the club must remain careful with him and handle him carefully once he returns to full fitness. Casemiro was experienced, but Baleba is someone with little experience, as the Brazilian arrived at Old Trafford as a five-time Champions League winner at Real Madrid, while Baleba has just played three Premier League seasons with Brighton.

However, Baleba is young, and that gives Manchester United an advantage to build their midfield around him slowly, as he could remain at Old Trafford for the majority of the next decade. His contract runs until 2031 with an option to extend till 2032, signalling that the club wants him to be a part of their long-term project.

Baleba isn't the perfect replacement for Casemiro right now, but he could become far more valuable if Manchester United play their cards right.