The makings of Hannibal: The Tunisian boy is one of United's bright spots this season

There are so many talented footballers, but not all will have the careers they want. At the highest level, you need mentality and attitude to go with your ability - and one Manchester United youngster has been showing it wherever he went.

Hannibal Mejbri made a strong impression at Birmingham City during his loan spell. In his initiation ceremony, he was required to sing a song in front of the entire squad - and he obliged by belting out a song which had lyrics in both French and English. People quickly realised he had a lot of confidence and charisma - so he fitted in quickly.

Flashy African homecoming for Manchester United starlet Mejbri

Manchester United signed Hannibal for just over $6 million as a teenager, outbidding several top clubs like Tottenham, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich. After a loan spell at Birmingham, he's now getting more chances in the first team. During his time with the EFL Championship team, the boy showed outstanding professionalism, played 41 matches, and matured in the competitive environment of the English second tier. His joint assistant head coach, Matt Gardiner, praised his work ethic, passion, and quick learning.

"His fearlessness really stood out. I would say that and his hunger to always win, even in the games in training. He's still only 20 and I would say he learns very quickly when you show him something. He'd work on things like match shooting, taking the ball under pressure or working on his weaker foot, or whatever the topic was for that particular week. We helped him but he really helped himself during his time here."

Gardiner mentioned Hannibal's impactful play, aggressive pressure, and his role in set-pieces, crediting his technical skill and work rate. The coach highlighted the Tunisian's hunger to win, his dedication to learning and improvement, and his positive influence on the squad. Despite receiving yellow cards due to his aggressive play, Gardiner emphasised that it stemmed from his passion for the game.

Comparing Hannibal to other promising talents he's coached, Gardiner expressed confidence in the midfielder's potential for a successful career, citing his ambition to play at the highest level.

"He's proud of playing for his national team and proud of playing for Birmingham and Manchester United. I think that the desire to play in the Premier League, Champions League and international tournaments is a huge thing. You have to have the talent, but you have to have the hunger as well, which Hannibal has no shortage of."

Reflecting on his time at Birmingham, Hannibal expressed gratitude for the relationships built during his loan spell. He arrived as a teenager and left as a more mature individual. Still, he has a long road ahead of him. In the games Erik Ten Hag played him, Hannibal showed he needs to learn to control his temper better, to know when to go hard, and when to ease off. All those things are natural for young players - regardless of their talent. For example, he looked totally out of place in Manchester United's home defeat to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup. Physically stronger players like Joelinton and Joe Willock made his life a misery that night. It's all a part of growing up as a player.

Mejbri recently earned his second Premier League start for United against Burnley. Despite supporters producing a 'play you like mean it' banner six weeks later, Hannibal had already demonstrated his dedication on the field. During the game at Turf Moor, he covered a staggering 12.9 kilometres, marking a record for a United player since the team began recording such data in 2019. His effort was notably higher than anyone else's on the pitch. Subsequently, he earned praise from Ten Hag.

"Before I came in here, he was already in the first team. He made his debut. Last year, he was on loan, and this year he is making progress. So that's why he deserved an opportunity, and I think now he's taking that opportunity. Every time he has to improve and he had to give the evidence that he is worthy of playing. But that counts for everyone, every player in the squad. There are situations where players are ahead, but it's good that the internal competition is there."

Hannibal's determination and dedication are unquestionable, and he's poised to keep battling for his spot this season. However, whether he can attain the consistency required for regular starts in midfield at Old Trafford remains uncertain. As he approaches his 21st birthday in January, there are certain areas of his game that still require refinement, as is typical for a player of his age and experience level.