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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