Hannibal, Manchester United’s 21-year-old French-Tunisian midfielder, speaks in flawless English as he describes his upbringing, which was very different from the glamour of United’s pre-season training camp in Los Angeles.
“I was born and raised in east Paris in a neighbourhood, not in the part where the tourists go, but I’m proud of where I am from and grew up," he told The National.
“I lived with my brothers and sisters and parents. They came from Tunisia, where mum was a physio. She worked with kids after moving to Paris. Dad worked in the market.
“He was up early selling things every day. Cheap things for everyday use – like €1 products. Dad was getting older but I’d see him wake up early and work so hard. If it rained then he didn’t earn much money.
“I saw how difficult life could be by how hard my father worked. I used to help him on a Sunday when I didn’t have a game. We would wake up at 4am, finish at 1pm. After the market we’d go home and eat a Tunisian dish made by my mother.
“As soon as we’d finish I’d play football in the neighbourhood. My parents are back living in Tunisia now, enjoying the weather and life there. I’m happy that they are there and enjoying life.”
Hannibal, like many of the planet’s top footballers, came from the football factory that is Paris, not that his heroes were star-name players.
“My hero was my brother Abderrahmen," he said. "He used to play football to a good standard and we’d go and watch him. I used to warm up with his team and ask if I could train with him. I watched him more than any games on TV.
“We didn’t have a TV package to watch football, but I remember seeing some Champions League games. I remember Cristiano Ronaldo playing for Manchester United in the Champions League and I liked this team.
“I should mention my sister Chema too. She did some sport like handball, but in our house school was important. Chema worked hard, studied medicine and became a doctor, which she still works as in Paris. She would help me with my studies.”
Hannibal’s own footballing career is also impressive.
“I started out at Paris FC, the nearest club to where we grew up – 10 minutes on a bus. It’s a nice club with a very good youth academy. I enjoyed my time there, playing football, learning from the coaches," he said.
“I had a lot of friends there and we didn’t think about making it as professionals, we just enjoyed playing football. I think that’s the most important thing when you are young.
“From Paris FC I had a nice year at AC Boulogne-Billancourt, a new experience. It’s good to be the new one sometimes and be in a new environment. Next I moved to Monaco aged 15. That was completely different. It was sunny for the first three months, like being on holiday every day and only playing football.”
United had been watching closely when Monaco paid £1m for the 14-year-old Hannibal. All of England’s top sides, as well as Bayern Munich, were interested. And, with his distinctive hairstyle, they couldn’t miss him in central midfield.
“A couple of big clubs wanted to sign me,” he said. “I knew this but kept working hard, but then we had an issue with Monaco around signing my first professional contract. All the clubs who’d been interested came back for me, but United was the one I wanted to join.”
Like his compatriot Patrice Evra before him, Hannibal moved from Monaco to United. The fee for the 2021 move was considerable, potentially rising to £9.3 million.
United had been watching him for three years having spotted Hannibal in a futsal tournament in Goussainville, Paris. Futsal is the skillful sport played indoors with a heavier, smaller ball. On the Saturday of the two-day event, Hannibal was playing for the under-12 side of Paris FC. It was “a massive winner mentality” that stood out for United’s academy scout in France.
“It was hard when I moved to Manchester, I’m not going to lie,” Hannibal said. “It’s a football city, but I was alone. I had learnt English at school but the English I heard in England was nothing like what I had been taught.
“The accents were strong. I lived with a Scottish family in digs close to the training ground. I found myself saying ‘yes’ to every question because I didn’t really understand.
“I had a little injury to my ankle but I couldn’t understand when people said ‘meankle’ in a Manchester accent. But I went to an English school so I could get used to the culture in England and became friends with other boys in the academy.
“My English became fluent so now I can speak fluent Arabic, French and English. I’m learning Spanish, too, after I spent six months in Sevilla. I’m not a shy person, I like to mix with people and engage in conversation and learn. I listen to music from around the world, from French rap to America rap, classical French music to urban English or Arabic. I love music.”
He did well at United, a confident dribbler who dropped deep to collect the ball and take it forward. His vision, technical ability and decision-making stood out, regardless of the opposition. He could change the tempo of the game. His debut for the under-23s came after just one under-18s appearance.
“At United I liked the idea that the young players were close to the first team and even trained with them. I came here early and have made several steps in the academy, first the under 18s and then 23s.
“I was with a lot of good young players who’ve now left the club. I worked hard, trained hard and waited for my chance with the first team. It took longer than I hoped but I was given a chance against Wolverhampton and had a good game and I nutmegged a player. I remember this like it was yesterday. I took advice from different coaches and learned a lot.”
One, Neil Wood, was coach of United’s 18s and then 21s.
“Hannibal has been through a range of experiences – good and bad – in the last 18 months,” Wood told The National. “There’s no doubting that he has great ability and I believe he would benefit hugely from a lot of trust being placed on him and also someone that understands him as a person and can get the best out of him.
“He’s technically gifted but can also add more goals and assists to his game. He obviously needs to improve with the petulance side of his game because he leaves himself open by taking cheap yellow cards, but I wish him well and think he’ll do well.”
Hannibal needed regular football and went on loan for the 2022/23 season to Championship side Birmingham City where he was playing every week.
“I did good and felt progress at Birmingham. You progress when you get game time. When you play every week, it’s hard to go back to the bench," he said.
“Last season was OK when I was at United, but I felt I could have had a little bit more game time after the Brighton game when I scored. As a player you always want more, so I decided to go on loan to Sevilla. I experienced a lot of things there.”
He started only one Premier League game at United last season in a 1-0 win at Burnley, though he started in both League Cup games. A loan made sense and, in January 2024, he moved to Sevilla in Spain with the option to buy him for £14m plus £3m in add-ons.
However, Hannibal barely featured for a club that had slumped to 17th in La Liga, with only three wins and 16 points from 20 games.
The Andalusians thought he had an eye for goal and that Spain would suit him because of the slower pace, yet he was dropped a week after arriving in Sevilla, where he was booked within a minute of his debut.
I chose to play for Tunisia early in my career and I’m proud to play for the national team. I was going to Tunisia every year from a being young, I speak Arabic.
Hannibal
The club issued a statement saying: “After being with him, talking to him and having seen his first minutes in Girona, we are going to give him the necessary space to understand where he is, that he is at Sevilla and what it means.”
He continued to train and worked his way back into first-team contention by the end of the season.
“It didn’t go well but I feel like I learnt a lot and that I’m more mature. I can feel that around the United players now,” Hannibal said.
“I’m not going to say that I’m considered an old player because I’m only 21, but they are not treating me like a young player either. I feel respected by my teammates.
"As a footballer, I just want to play and show myself. Every player will say the same. I’m tired of sitting on a bench watching others play.”
Hannibal has seen his close friends move and prosper.
“I was close with Antony Elanga and Teden Mengi. I’ve seen them leave the club and succeed as Premier League players and I’m proud of them. They needed to play every week like I do, but it’s harder to do it at United”.
For now, Hannibal stays at United but he’s a prime target for a move.
“I’m good with everyone here at United,” he said. “I’m a smiley happy person. My friends now are Maxi [Oyedele] and Amad [Diallo], plus Lenny [Yoro] who just joined. He speaks French and he’s young like me.”
After representing France as a junior, Hannibal chose to play as a full international for Tunisia and Tunisians are proud that a player they view as a future star chose to play for the country of his heritage over France, the country of his birth.
“I chose to play for Tunisia early in my career and I’m proud to play for the national team. I was going to Tunisia every year from being young, I speak Arabic.," he said.
“And it’s a football country. Tunisia used to have the best football league in Africa. There are a lot of talented Tunisian footballers but the current situation is a little complicated. They are working hard to improve the infrastructure. Things are working slowly to get better, but we should get there. I love Tunisia – and I love France, too.”
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
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Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
The five pillars of Islam
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
The years Ramadan fell in May
THE BIO
BIO:
Born in RAK on December 9, 1983
Lives in Abu Dhabi with her family
She graduated from Emirates University in 2007 with a BA in architectural engineering
Her motto in life is her grandmother’s saying “That who created you will not have you get lost”
Her ambition is to spread UAE’s culture of love and acceptance through serving coffee, the country’s traditional coffee in particular.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The five pillars of Islam
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
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The%20specs
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Your rights as an employee
The government has taken an increasingly tough line against companies that fail to pay employees on time. Three years ago, the Cabinet passed a decree allowing the government to halt the granting of work permits to companies with wage backlogs.
The new measures passed by the Cabinet in 2016 were an update to the Wage Protection System, which is in place to track whether a company pays its employees on time or not.
If wages are 10 days late, the new measures kick in and the company is alerted it is in breach of labour rules. If wages remain unpaid for a total of 16 days, the authorities can cancel work permits, effectively shutting off operations. Fines of up to Dh5,000 per unpaid employee follow after 60 days.
Despite those measures, late payments remain an issue, particularly in the construction sector. Smaller contractors, such as electrical, plumbing and fit-out businesses, often blame the bigger companies that hire them for wages being late.
The authorities have urged employees to report their companies at the labour ministry or Tawafuq service centres — there are 15 in Abu Dhabi.
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
ICC Intercontinental Cup
UAE squad Rohan Mustafa (captain), Chirag Suri, Shaiman Anwar, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Saqlain Haider, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Naveed, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Boota, Amir Hayat, Ashfaq Ahmed
Fixtures Nov 29-Dec 2
UAE v Afghanistan, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Hong Kong v Papua New Guinea, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Ireland v Scotland, Dubai International Stadium
Namibia v Netherlands, ICC Academy, Dubai
Spec%20sheet
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Like a Fading Shadow
Antonio Muñoz Molina
Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez
Tuskar Rock Press (pp. 310)
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Scoreline
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 17
Jebel Ali Dragons 20
Harlequins Tries: Kinivilliame, Stevenson; Cons: Stevenson 2; Pen: Stevenson
Dragons Tries: Naisau, Fourie; Cons: Love 2; Pens: Love 2
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
The story in numbers
18
This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens
450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m
73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
18,000
The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
77,400
The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study
4,926
This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Martin Sabbagh profile
Job: CEO JCDecaux Middle East
In the role: Since January 2015
Lives: In the UAE
Background: M&A, investment banking
Studied: Corporate finance
The years Ramadan fell in May
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
