Bryan Mbeumo exclusive: Helping 'cool guy' Benjamin Sesko settle at Manchester United, 'crazy' fanbase, and why Ruben Amorim has not set him targets
Published 14/08/2025 at 12:11 GMT+1
Manchester United host Arsenal on Sunday as they begin their 2025/26 Premier League campaign at Old Trafford. Ahead of that hugely intriguing opener, United summer arrival Bryan Mbeumo sat down with TNT Sports to reflect on his first few weeks at the club, including early impressions of fellow new forward Benjamin Sesko, and dealing with the "crazy" attention from the club's fans.
'Everything you’re doing is watched' - Mbeumo on dealing with 'crazy, massive' Man Utd fanbase
Video credit: TNT Sports
Bryan Mbeumo has revealed that Ruben Amorim has set him "no targets" ahead of the 2025/26 season, as the new Manchester United forward expanded on his ambitions in his first season at Old Trafford.
Mbeumo had the season of his life at Brentford in 2024/25, earning himself a move north thanks to 20 Premier League goals, coupled with seven assists.
It put Mbeumo in some elite company, with only Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland scoring more times in the English top flight.
That might have led the Cameroonian to set some even loftier marks for the upcoming campaign, but Mbeumo - speaking to TNT Sports at United's newly-upgraded Carrington training ground - is seeing things a different way.
"No, he didn't," Mbeumo said, when asked if his new boss Amorim has set him goal contribution targets.
"I didn't either, I don't like to put any limits on myself, so I don't think about this."
For a team that struggled for goals last season - hitting just 44 goals in the league, the fifth-lowest - that ceiling-less mindset will be music to Amorim's ears.
The United manager has seen his club spend big to revamp his frontline over the summer, bringing in not just Mbeumo but also Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko.
And, from Mbeumo's viewpoint, the early chemistry is promising.
"I think it's the mentality and the joy he brings into the trainings," Mbeumo said of Amorim.
"I think he’s someone who likes to give energy on the pitch, even sometimes some smiles and stuff. So I think it’s really cool to work [with him].
"Cunha is a really good player, it’s good that we could share some trainings on the pitch together because it’s always important to have good automatisms in the team, and a strong link in front.
"[We've been doing] some striker works, some forward works. I think we still have some freedom up front, but there are some principles to respect.
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"I don’t expect anything [in terms of playing positions]. I think obviously it’s going to be the manager’s choice to play the players.
"Obviously I think it’s important to be able to play different positions, so I’m going to be playing wherever I can."
"He looks like a cool guy," Mbeumo added of Sesko. "We’re just being normal, just having normal conversations. He’s a good guy.
"I think it’s important [to help people settle], especially when you come from another league and you don’t really know [things here].
"I think it’s important to make them feel at home already. I think everyone is doing this naturally, we don’t really calculate anything, but I think this is really important."
With fans fascinated by how the new front three will gel, Mbeumo shared an insight into the details he has put in place off the pitch that are driving his own personal improvements.
| Mbeumo stats | 23/24 | 24/25 |
| Goals | 9 | 20 |
| Assists | 6 | 7 |
| Shot conv. | 17% | 23.5% |
| Big chance conv. | 47.1% | 55% |
Data: Opta
"I think it’s a lot of things," he said. "I have a lot of things working around myself, especially chef, performance coach, analysis.
"It’s a bit of everything and especially the work I put into the trainings, I always want to get better and you can always get good returns.
"Of course it’s different [at United], it’s different everywhere, every time I get to something new, I try to get inspiration from the ones who know things, and from people who are doing things differently to me.
"I always try to think how can this help me, or how can this not help me, and I try to be a bit of everything."
Mbeumo joined his new side for their pre-season tour of the USA, and the 26-year-old got his first taste of what lies in store as a United player.
"I found it crazy, to be honest," he candidly admitted. "When I arrived in America for the pre-season camp, the fan base is massive and you don’t really expect it until you actually feel it in real life, until you actually join the club.
"Of course it’s impressive but at the end we are playing football to give people joy, so it’s nice to do that."
The scrutiny on United was a topic covered by Harry Maguire this week, with the defender suggesting it is "on a totally different scale" to other clubs.
When asked how he plans to deal with the increased exposure, Mbeumo said: "It’s one of the biggest clubs in the world, so obviously there is a lot of expectation from people.
"Everything you’re doing is watched by people, but I think you need to try to think about something else and not always being focussed on who is watching you. And try to do your best, and play your football."
To that end, Mbeumo has numerous off-pitch pursuits, being a keen chess player and enjoying games to challenge his mind.
"This is something really helping me in my life in general, being able to do a few things around football, to make myself think about something else other than football," he said.
"Of course it’s important to think about football, but at some point in your day, it’s important to relax and think about something else, so this is how I help myself to do it."
United begin their season looking for a jump-start against last season's runners-up Arsenal, before a trip to Fulham a week later.
Following last year's 15th-placed league finish and their UEFA Europa League final loss to Tottenham Hotspur, there will be no European football on the agenda.
But Mbeumo, as he assessed what would be a successful season, wants that to change next year as United eye a route back into the elite of the English top flight.
"In my personal thinking, I always want to finish as high as possible," he said. "I think we want to try to get back to Europe as soon as possible.
"Of course it’s going to be tough, it’s not going to be easy, we’re going to work a lot together.
"For Manchester United we need to fight for this every year, and that’s what we’re going to try to do."
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Video credit: TNT Sports
He added: "It’s a matter of time [until United return to the top of the game]. Of course it’s not going to happen like that easily.
"We’re going to put some big work on this and being together and just try to get a good spirit, which we have at the moment.
"I think this is the most important [thing], because everyone is helping the others to step up."
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