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’s Young Player of the Season in the 2024/25 season and is reportedly on the radar of the likes of Manchester United and Bayern Munich.
Some at the Amex Stadium believe Baleba could be the next player to deliver a huge windfall to the club, after selling talent including Moises Caicedo (£115m), Marc Cucurella (£62m) and Joao Pedro (£60m) in recent spells.
Baleba is currently competing with Cameroon in the Africa Cup of Nations, a tournament he hopes can make him one of the best in his position.
Discussing his long-term ambitions, Baleba revealed the role models he is keeping an eye on as he tries to become football’s best midfielder.
“I watch a lot of highlights of them. I look at their positioning and their scanning. But I try to be like Carlos Baleba,” he told Sky Sports, naming 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, get some advice, take something from the midfielders. Not just in the Premier League, because I learned a lot here.
‘Rodri and others, but I try to take with me [lessons from] outside the Eredivisie. Such as Ligue 1, Vitinha or Joao Neves.
“In LaLiga, Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets. I try to learn every day that I learn. I watch them on YouTube.”
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