Flashy African homecoming for Manchester United starlet Mejbri

That’s what you call a spectacular unveiling! Hannibal Mejbri was unveiled in a Hollywood-style presentation by the Tunisian Football Association after he’d decided to represent the country in international football.

The 18-year-old Manchester United youngster Mejbri represented France at youth level but has chosen to switch his allegiance to Tunisia and is in contention to make his debut against the Democratic Republic of Congo, Algeria or Mali this month.

A video clip shared on social media showed a packed conference room of dignitaries and media figures awaiting the unveiling of Mejbri as a dramatic countdown played along with a dramatic backing soundtrack. After almost a minute of build-up, Mejbri walked out where strobe lighting accompanied bursts of flames as the United starlet took centre stage.

It’s a huge boost for the country to have a star of the future donning the national team shirt. Hailing from the same Paris suburbs that bred eight members of France’s 2018 World Cup-winning squad, including Kylian Mbappe, N’Golo Kante, and Paul Pogba, there was fine precedent for footballing pedigree. United scouted Mejbri for at least three years and were impressed with his mental character as well as his ability. He is a rough diamond certain to shine in the coming years.

His capture has been viewed as a coup by the Tunisian FA and they wanted to make sure he knew he'd made the right decision by staging a spectacular unveiling ceremony for him.

Mejbri was capped at Under-17 and Under-18 level by France. Even if he plays for Tunisia next month he could still technically switch back to France as he will not have played in a competitive international.

United signed the teenage attacking talent for a fee rising to $12.2million from Monaco in 2019 and the youngster made his senior debut against Wolves on the final day of the Premier League season. Earlier in the month, Mejbri was crowned as United's Under-23 Player of the Year and he is expected to be included in the club's pre-season training squad when they travel to Malta in late July.

The boy is where he would be. Let's see if he reaches the anticipated heights.