Bryan Mbeumo: Neville and Wright both say same thing about United’s prolific star

Manchester United’s £65 million summer signing Bryan Mbeumo has already supplied nine goals and two assists in 21 Premier League outings, but two of English football’s most respected voices believe the 26-year-old Cameroon international might have flourished even more had he chosen a different shade of red—or blue.

Speaking to Metro, former Manchester United captain Gary Neville argued that Arsenal and Chelsea ultimately missed out on the forward they needed. “If you look at it now, Mbeumo would probably have been better for Chelsea and Arsenal than the players they got,” Neville said, while stressing that United have still secured “a really solid signing. I like him a lot.”

Arsenal legend Ian Wright echoed the sentiment, praising Mbeumo’s menace in the final third. “He always looks dangerous… absolutely [he would have strengthened Arsenal],” Wright explained. “It’s the same with Semenyo, you watch Semenyo and think, ‘I could see him at Arsenal’. I could see Mbeumo at Arsenal as well. Gutted.”

The debate arrives at a pivotal moment for all three clubs. Arsenal and Chelsea remain locked in a tight race for major domestic prizes, and both outfits were linked with Mbeumo before United sealed the initial £65 million transfer from Brentford. The forward’s October exploits—capped by the EA SPORTS Player of the Month award—have only intensified the what-if conversations around the capital.

For Erik ten Hag’s side, the priority is ensuring Mbeumo’s hot streak continues through the season’s run-in. With 11 direct goal involvements already to his name, the winger has become United’s primary attacking outlet, and any dip in form could prove costly as the club chases a return to the Champions League places.

Whether the pundits’ musings amount to mere hindsight or a prescient warning for Premier League rivals, Mbeumo’s early impact at Old Trafford suggests United will feel they made the right call—no matter how loudly the London clubs lament the one that got away.