When Carlos Baleba could make his Manchester United debut after £70m transfer

United were initially quoted in excess of £100m for Baleba. They decided to wait 12 months and have now snapped up their man for an initial £65m fee, with a further £5m included in add-ons.

Following his move to United, Baleba said: "It is an incredible feeling to join the club of my dreams. Playing at Old Trafford is always special but the opportunity to do so as a Manchester United player will be a real honour.

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To get it, it's a simple one-two punch.

"I cannot wait to work with Michael Carrick; his experience and knowledge of the game make him the perfect coach to help me to reach the highest level. The ambition of everyone at the club is extremely clear, the future is hugely exciting, and I am determined to play my part in delivering the success that we are capable of together."

Unfortunately for Baleba, his debut for United will not come this weekend. The defensive midfielder picked up an ankle ligament injury during pre-season at Brighton. This ensured he missed Sunday's 4-0 victory over Aston Villa.

It's understood Baleba could be back in mid-September. Should that be the case, an optimistic date for his debut would be on Sunday, September 20, when United travel to Fulham in the Premier League.

This will be United's last fixture before the extended three-week international break. During the international break, Baleba's Cameroon are scheduled to face Comoros and Congo in Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying.

Depending on how Baleba recovers from his injury, the midfielder could play in one or both of those fixtures before returning to Carrington. Alternatively, the decision could be made to leave Baleba out of the squad to ensure he is fully recovered.

If Baleba does not make his United debut against Fulham, the midfielder would be expected to feature for the first time when the Reds host Tottenham on Saturday, October 10.