£70m Midfielder Sidelined Past International Break After Roma Injury
Manchester United midfielder Carlos Baleba faces several weeks on the sidelines after sustaining a hamstring injury during the 3-2 victory over Roma. The 22-year-old pulled up in the first minute of the second half before being forced off. The recovery timeline keeps the summer signing out past the upcoming international break, with physical rehabilitation potentially extending through the remainder of 2026.
Manchester United Options Compress Following Carlos Baleba Hamstring Blow
Baleba has recorded just five starts since completing a £70m transfer from Brighton & Hove Albion, having previously missed early-season fixtures due to an ankle problem. His absence leaves head coach Michael Carrick with reduced rotation options in central midfield heading into a dense winter calendar.
Carlos Baleba
playerMeanwhile, defender Patrick Dorgu has returned to partial squad training while managing recurring hamstring issues. Selection for the defender ahead of the match against Aston Villa remains subject to late physical assessment by medical staff.
Recovery Timeline and Key Fixtures for Carlos Baleba
Michael Carrick confirmed the physical layoff extends beyond the upcoming international window following early medical evaluations.
Manchester United
club“We don’t know, but it will be a number of weeks,” Carrick said. “It won’t be after the international break [that Baleba returns]. It’ll be a little bit longer than that.”
The midfielder is ruled out of Sunday’s fixture against Aston Villa, along with the Premier League trip to Liverpool on November 22 and the UEFA Champions League match against Sporting CP three days later. Manchester United play seven matches during December, including a scheduled visit to Arsenal on December 20, as medical staff monitor his rehabilitation benchmarks.