Manchester United midfielder Hannibal Mejbri has officially joined Burnley FC and the reveal video following the signing is absolutely class.
Announcement videos have become part and parcel of the modern transfer window; you can either go bid dramatic, name in headlights with their reveals or the much preferred tongue-in-cheek comedic approach – but you have to nail it if you’re going for the latter.
With that in mind, the Lancashire side confirmed the promising central-mid on Wednesday morning, 28 August, with an absolute tap-in of a pop culture parody.
But we’ll warn you, if you thought this was going in the admittedly very obvious Silence of Lambs direction, you’re wrong…
Yes, with earth-shattering news of the Oasis reunion dropping just yesterday, the marketing and media team over at Burnley saw a golden opportunity to welcome the new boy from Manchester with one of the most iconic rock socks of all time.
‘Wonderwall’ might be so ubiquitous that it borders on being skippable whenever it comes on these days (think ‘Mr Brightside’) but, on this occasion, the 21-year-old’s name made for a perfect play on words that couldn’t be passed up.
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We still maintain wheeling him out in a straitjacket and wearing a metal mask would’ve been funnier, though, even if it is low-hanging fruit, but we’ll let them off.
The French-born Tunisian international is the latest squad player to leave Man United this summer as part of a mass rebuild, joining the Clarets for an initial fee of £5.4 million though the deal could rise up to £9.4m with additional sell-on and buy-back clauses.
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Sharing a heartfelt goodbye post on social media, he wrote: “It’s been an honour to represent this incredible club for the past five years. I leave with so many special memories. Making my debut, scoring at Old Trafford and representing United in the Champions League.
“I’ll forever be grateful to the many staff and players who have helped me to develop and grow from a boy to the man that I am today.” Hannibal joined Old Trafford from Monaco as a youth player in 2019 and went on to make 13 appearances for the first team amidst two loan spells at Birmingham and Sevilla.
Meanwhile, as Hannibal departs and long-serving academy graduate turned first-team regular Scott McTominay is also expected to leave, United are also preparing to announce their latest arrival.
Featured Images — Ardfern (via Wikimedia Commons)/Burnley FC (via X)
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Tommy Fury announces huge fight against former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall
Daisy Jackson
Tommy Fury has announced his next major boxing match – against a rather unlikely opponent.
The Manc boxer and former Love Island star will face Eddie Hall, who once reigned as the World’s Strongest Man and was the first person on the planet to deadlift 500kg.
The match, billed as Beauty vs The Beast (we’ll let you decide who’s who…), will take place at the AO Arena this summer.
Tommy Fury and Eddie Hall will be facing off in Manchester as part of the Misfits Boxing series, a sports promotion company founded by YouTube sensation KSI.
26-year-old Fury – younger brother of heavyweight legend Tyson Fury – remains unbeaten, seeing off all-comers in the crossover boxing world.
As for 38-year-old Eddie Hall (nicknamed The Beast), he retired as a strongman competitor, where he’s previously been crowned the World’s Strongest Man, and has now pivoted into combat sports.
The pair have collaborated recently on several videos online, taking on challenges like a One Punch Knockout and a breakfast eating competition.
But this will be the first time they’ve publicly faced off in the ring.
Misfirst Boxing has once more delivered the biggest match-ups possible in the crossover boxing space, with Fury vs. Hall promising to be a titanic tussle that will captivate fans around the world.
Tommy Fury vs Eddie Hall, Beauty vs The Beast, will take place on Saturday 13 June at the AO Arena in Manchester – you can get tickets HERE.
Corey Blackett-Taylor ruled out injured for the rest of the season
Danny Jones
Bolton Wanderers winger Corey Blackett-Taylor has been ruled out for the rest of the season following injury.
With not that long left in this year’s campaign and the playoff scrap set to ramp up even further in the coming weeks, it’s an unfortunate twist of fate for the Trotters.
Despite still being only a relatively recent signing, having just joined Bolton in the most recent January transfer window, it didn’t take long for him to make a good impression.
Scoring on debut in a 1-0 away win against AFC Wimbledon, the 28-year-old is now set to miss the remainder of the 2025/26 term, letting supporters know the news on Friday, 27 March.
Blackett-Taylor was forced off in the game against Rotherham United after pulling up in the wake of taking a shot, ultimately being subbed in the first half.
It was quickly confirmed to be a thigh injury, and while the specific nature and severity of the damage haven’t been fully detailed, he has now informed fans that his season is over.
Writing on Instagram, he said: “Instantly from arriving at the club, I felt the passion and support from the fans, club, staff and players.
“I have no doubts [about] the club achieving their targets of promotion – I want to say a huge thank you for making me feel so welcomed and comfortable. Unfortunately, my season is concluded due to my injury, but I’ll be here supporting the team to the very end.”
He isn’t the only impactful League One player at a side eyeing up the Championship to have been hampered by setbacks on the physio bench, with rivals Stockport County also confirming an absence at this crucial point in the campaign.
Not ideal for either of the Greater Manchester hopefuls.
Once again, while the recovery period for both of these players has already begun, the exact timelines for their return remain to be seen.
That being said, chances are we’ll see the Derby County loanee back in action before Hills, though we’ll have to wait to find out whether it will be at the Toughsheet Stadium or back with his parent club.
Who do you think is going to clinch that third promotion place at Wembley come this May?
Danny Jones -
28th August 2024 
