Read 3 minutes12 Jun 2026 05:42 PM IST
This is not the first time that the Manchester United dream has come true for Hannibal Mejbri, as the club has been in a disappointing state during his 2020-2024 academy stay. But the Paris-born Tunisian wunderkid collected enough testimonials to generate buzz around his game. Now signed to Burnley in the EFL, Hannibal, 23, will travel to his second World Cup with an enhanced reputation.
Tunisia beat France 1-0 at the last World Cup – with no material consequences as they finished third, a match he did not play in. But this time Hannibal is all the rage. Man Utd U23 days have been replaced by a half-foot Afro braid, but Nicky Butt’s words are relevant.
“Hannibal (Majbry)’s leader. The way he plays his football is 100mph, he runs up and down non-stop,” Butt told the Manchester Evening News. “Leaders are always seen as Roy Keane, Steve Bruce, Bryan Robson, those kind of literal, real aggressive, real leaders,” he would say, before drawing comparisons to David Beckham.
“And then you’ve got leaders like Paul Scholes or David Beckham or Ryan Giggs, who are quiet but really lead by example in how they play and how hard they work.”
Hannibal was a bright spark in a 4-0 defeat against Liverpool in 2022 when Roy Keane lamented United’s lack of courage and made his debut as a substitute in a 2-1 win over Wolves on the final day of the Premier League season. But he never settled at the club, opting to move to Burnley.
Around that time Tunisia made a move and persuaded him to switch allegiance from France, where he was born.
The Manchester Evening News reported that his decision was greeted with national celebrations in Tunisia. After playing for France U16 and U17 at the unveiling, a stage was erected in front of the palace to showcase their catches.
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Barcelona, PSG and Spurs all showed interest before he joined Manchester United from Monaco in August 2019 and it was a big day for the Tunisian ahead of France.
At Hannibal’s Tunisian unveiling, dignitaries and journalists crowded the auditorium as a musical countdown was given to his entrance. “After the tension builds, Mejbry finally takes the stage, surrounded by strobe lighting and flames,” the Evening News reported.
His Manchester United teachers have previously compared his composure on the ball to that of David Beckham.
Tunisia became the first country to qualify for the World Cup without conceding a goal thanks to the physicality of their defence. They will hope Hannibal’s score goes up.