Man Utd legends Wayne Rooney and Dwight Yorke have delivered very different takes on the club’s decision to sign Carlos Baleba.

Speaking on the Stick To United podcast, Rooney said that the Cameroon international would provide “competition for places” in the middle of the park:

“I really like him, I think he’s a really good signing. We need another midfield player with a bit of physicality, and I know he’s not six-foot-four or whatever.”

“But he covers the ground really well; he’s aggressive, he takes the ball, and is what we need. He’s a very good player who will improve the team massively.”

“It will be interesting with (Youri) Tielemans, (Andrey) Santos and (Kobbie) Mainoo, but this is what it should be. Competition for places. If you don’t play well, you don’t play.”

In contrast, Yorke thinks that his former club have placed too much emphasis on strengthening the midfield this summer:

“We’ve added another young player who is still unproven in Carlos Baleba. He showed good signs in the past, but from my understanding, we aren’t signing him based on his recent form, but his form of a couple of seasons ago.”

“I’m a bit confused by it myself, but I do believe we are focusing way too much on that central area rather than other aspects of the team.”

Have Man Utd spent their budget wisely?

Yorke could have a point in terms of the recruitment team having been fixated on reinforcing one area of the pitch.

The defeat to Hull City at the weekend would suggest that manager Michael Carrick could do with additional options at the back.

Following the decision to spend £70m on Baleba, there is unlikely to be money left over for pursuing a left-back like Newcastle’s Lewis Hall. Heading into the summer, there was also talk of a left-winger and even another centre-half being brought in, but neither of those positions has been strengthened either.

Baleba won’t be starting games anytime soon

Another fact that makes the swoop for the Cameroon star even more surprising is his injury status. He is currently on the sidelines with ankle ligament damage.

Baleba may be unavailable for another month, so while he may be presented to the crowd this weekend after his official unveiling, he won’t be playing on the Old Trafford pitch for quite some time.

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