Bryan Mbeumo Reveals How Cristiano Ronaldo Influenced His Manchester United Transfer
Bryan Mbeumo's boyhood admiration for Manchester United, sparked during Cristiano Ronaldo's initial stint at Old Trafford, proved decisive in his choice to reject several other Premier League suitors this summer.
After six weeks of challenging negotiations with Brentford, United successfully secured a £71 million ($95.7 million) transfer for the 25-year-old forward. Throughout the difficult talks, the Bees allegedly attempted to steer Mbeumo toward moves to Newcastle United or Tottenham Hotspur. Such proposals were never seriously considered. For Mbeumo, Manchester United was the only destination that mattered.
"Right from the beginning, I was determined to join this incredible club," the Cameroon striker expressed enthusiastically in his debut club interview. "Being here now fills me with joy. To me, this is the greatest club on the planet. The supporters are phenomenal, the stadium is spectacular, and every footballer dreams of playing here.
"My very first jersey was a Manchester United shirt with Ronaldo's name on the back. This club means everything, and I couldn't be happier to be part of it," Mbeumo declared with obvious delight.
During Ronaldo's maiden Ballon d'Or triumph as a United player in 2008, Mbeumo was just 9 years old and would have witnessed the Portuguese superstar's ascension during those formative years—the perfect age for developing football passion.
Mbeumo faced Ronaldo directly on three separate occasions following his 2021 return to Old Trafford. The initial two encounters resulted in Brentford losses before a remarkable afternoon at the Gtech Community Stadium in August 2022, where Mbeumo netted the concluding goal in a stunning 4–0 victory over United.
United's newest signing also praised his incoming manager Ruben Amorim. "He appears genuinely connected with his squad," Mbeumo observed. "His approach, his relentless pursuit of victory—that's exactly what I require. I've always aspired to compete at the elite level. Now that I'm here, I'm eager to demonstrate my capabilities."