Brighton midfield Baleba outlines goal to be ‘world’s best’ | OneFootball

Brighton’s Carlos Baleba has said he has ambitions of becoming the world’s best midfielder.

Baleba’s reputation has risen rapidly since signing for the Seagulls from Lille in 2023, with the 21-year-old attracting interest from Europe’s elite.

The midfielder was named Brighton’sYoung Player of the Season in 2024/25, and is reportedly on the radar of Manchester United and Bayern Munich, among others.

Some inside the Amex Stadium believe Baleba could be the next player to earn the club a huge windfall, following the sales of talent including Moises Caicedo (£115m), Marc Cucurella (£62m) and Joao Pedro (£60m) in recent windows.

Baleba is currently with Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations, a tournament he is hoping can establish him as one of the best in his position.

Discussing his long-term ambitions, Baleba revealed the role models he watches as he bids to become the best midfielder in the game.

“I watch a lot of highlights from them. I watch their positioning and their scanning. But I try to be like Carlos Baleba,” he told Sky Sports, citing Paul Pogba, Sergio Busquets, Thiago Alcantara and Kevin De Bruyne as idols.

“It’s an ambition [of mine] to be the best midfielder in the world. I just want to work hard, to take some advice, to take something from the midfielders. Not just in the Premier League, because I learned a lot from here.

“Rodri and others, but I try to take [lessons from] outside of the Premier League. Like Ligue 1, Vitinha or Joao Neves.

“In LaLiga, Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets. I try to learn every day I’m learning. I’m watching them on YouTube.”

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