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Sevilla manager Quique Sánchez Flores has provided a fresh update on on-loan Manchester United midfielder Hannibal Mejbri.
The Spanish tactician lauded the Tunisian midfielder just a few weeks after icing him out of the first team for a hellish start to his loan spell in Spain. Sevilla beat out Everton in January to secure Hannibal on loan by including a buy option, which probably will not be activated.
He struggled to adapt, so much so that the manager did not even consider him for selection.
“After being with him, talking to him and having seen his first minutes in Girona, we are going to give him the necessary space to understand where he is, that he is at Sevilla and what it means,
He has to know where he is, and we want to see him. Let’s see if the boy applies himself and I think that in the end he will understand perfectly what we want” Flores said on 27 January.
This was after Hannibal played only 28 minutes in a huge 5-1 loss to Girona. The midfielder was then used sparingly, playing only 9 minutes in the next 7 games.
Hannibal has made a complete 180 turn and even made his first start for Sevilla over the weekend in a 3-2 win over Real Sociedad, playing just over 50 minutes.
The manager provided a positive update, stating he is pleased with the midfielder’s recent improvement and progress, even implying he is now in his plans.
“The boy is reaching another level of understanding and is now capable of playing at any time.
This has been a more mental adaption than a footballing one. Going from the Premier League to La Liga, which is very different.
And moving to a team with a very difficult situation. From Manchester United, which was fighting among the top five, to Sevilla, which is among the bottom seven. It is very different. He had to be grounded, put [the challenge] into perspective, and now it is the coach who has to play him.” Sánchez Flores told Diario de Sevilla
It is still unlikely that Sevilla will activate the 19-million euro buy clause, albeit it will be interesting to see if he can keep improving and impressing his manager.
