Patrick Dorgu bin smile and give two-word reply wen dem ask am if e go like play with Carlos Baleba for Manchester United. Di player just yarn ‘no comment’ with smile for face, as e dey speak to journalists for mixed zone afta Brighton lose 3-0 to United for di final day of Premier League season.
Baleba, wey be Cameroon international, bin dey on United radar for di last two years. Di midfielder bin wan move to Old Trafford last summer, but Brighton value am at £100million, wey make di Reds cool dia interest. Since dat move no happen, Baleba no really bin dey at im best, and Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler don admit say di transfer talk affect am.
For Sunday afternoon, Brighton suffer defeat for Amex Stadium, but results for other places mean di Seagulls still qualify for Conference League, so dem celebrate afta match. Baleba bin dey high spirits as e walk down tunnel. E even shout ‘Patrick’ while Dorgu dey yarn with journalists for mixed zone.
Wen Dorgu interview with Manchester reporters finish, dem ask am about Baleba shouting im name and weda e go like play alongside am for United next season. E just smile and say: ‘No comment!’
Baleba mixed form fit make Brighton reduce dia valuation for am dis summer. United dey market for at least two midfielders, as Casemiro don leave and Manuel Ugarte dey set to exit.
Speaking for September, Hurzeler yarn about Baleba: ‘I think it’s normal for a young player wen media create noise around am. E no easy for dis player to handle am. So we need to give am time and support so e come back to im best performance. But e be young player, and I think dat something we must accept, dat young players no always get di face wey we want see. E be our responsibility to help dem for di right moments.’
Wen dem ask if di interest from United don affect di midfielder, di Brighton boss add: ‘I think everyone dey affected, especially wen you be dat young, and you hear dis kind tings, no matter if dem wrong or right. But e be noise wey we no need.’
Baleba start 23 games for Brighton for Premier League dis term. E don start four successive matches for Hurzeler side before e lose im place for di team again for di final day of di campaign against United.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
