Bryan Mbeumo needed less than 45 minutes to remind Manchester United fans why the club signed him from Brentford. Yet, despite his lively debut, the biggest buzz after the match wasn’t about his creativity, movement, or passing ability.
Instead, it was all about his waistline.
Yes — seriously.
Making his first appearance in a Manchester United shirt during a pre-season friendly, Mbeumo was expected to showcase his sharpness and attacking instincts. And he did. In his brief time on the pitch, the Cameroonian international displayed quick turns, smart runs, and intelligent interplay — immediately adding a spark that’s been missing from United’s attack. His football brain? On display. His vision? Still intact.
But as the match progressed, social media had its own focus — and it wasn’t his performance.
“Is he wearing body armor?” one user quipped. “Looks like he’s got a backpack under there,” said another. Memes flooded timelines, some light-hearted, others more critical — comparing Mbeumo to amateur players fresh off a weekend barbecue. While some fans laughed it off, others voiced genuine concern about his physical shape.
In modern football — especially at a club like Manchester United — elite fitness is non-negotiable. With the new season approaching fast, questions have already surfaced: is this just preseason sluggishness, or a sign of deeper conditioning concerns?
Head coach Ruben Amorim, however, remained unfazed.
“He offers vision and intelligence in the final third — that’s what we care about. We’ll handle his fitness just like any other player,” he said after the match.
For now, fans are divided: will Mbeumo silence the critics and become the creative force United have been missing — or will doubts over his conditioning grow louder?
As always with this club, time — and intense scrutiny — will tell.
