Bryan Mbeumo scored 42 goals in 136 Premier League appearances for Brentford
Bryan Mbeumo, despite his comfort on the pitch before thousands, admits to nerves when playing piano in front of friends.
“It’s funny, but it’s so different,” explains the £65m Manchester United acquisition.
“Even if I play in front of a couple of friends at home, I’m not exactly shaking but it’s ‘oh guys, this is kind of hard for me’.”
Meeting Mbeumo at United’s Chicago hotel during their pre-season tour reveals a different side to the Premier League star.
Mbeumo presents as reserved, composed, and respectful, a stark contrast to his dynamic playing style.
Last season, he netted 20 Premier League goals, making him a key target for United head coach Ruben Amorim in his tactical setup.
The Cameroon international stated he was drawn to United’s “project.” Despite discussions with other clubs, his desire to join Old Trafford remained firm, trusting his representatives to finalize the move he sought.
It was the standard introductory session, as expected from a new player.
However, Mbeumo’s enthusiasm shines when discussing his passion for the piano and chess.
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Unlike Lionesses’ Michelle Agyemang, who brought her piano to Switzerland and practiced daily, Mbeumo isn’t eager to perform publicly.
“I’m self-taught,” he noted. “And I’m not bad.
“The piano is not really linked to football. It just allows me to take time for myself and relax in my free time.”
While it might seem like the perfect initiation for his new teammates, Mbeumo is hesitant.
“We will see,” he considered. “The thing is, I don’t really like to play in front of people.”
Mbeumo mentioned hearing Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee enjoys chess, and he might bring his board to challenge him. Currently, he primarily plays anonymously online.
Introducing himself as Bryan Mbeumo, the Manchester United footballer, might not yield the desired results.
“I have a username,” he said. “You choose a nickname and just play against random people online. I use my own chess board against them.
“I’m not that crazy good. But if you know the rating, I’m like 800 on Chess.com.”
Chess might seem far removed from football, given the intense strategy involved.
Mbeumo argues the similarities are more apparent than one might think.
Others share this view.
Crystal Palace and England forward Eberechi Eze won £15,000 in a four-day amateur PogChamps tournament, competing against content creators and athletes.
The financial gain is secondary for players like Eze and Mbeumo; the appeal lies in the challenge.
“Even if it’s not physical, there is a lot of thought in chess,” said Mbeumo.
“When you play football you have to think as well. Playing chess you can see some moves ahead because it is a strategy game. In football you have your strategy as well so you can link them together.
“There was one period where I was really into it.
“I was watching videos on YouTube and doing training on the app.
“It’s really good for the brain and you can develop new skills.
“Obviously, you’re doing football most of the time, every day, so you sometimes you don’t really have time to develop on other skills. But I really like the creativity.”
Mbeumo’s interest led him to watch “The Queen’s Gambit,” but he has yet to see the documentary on Magnus Carlsen.
Currently, Mbeumo is focused on fitness.
His former team, Brentford, had a later return to training, so the 25-year-old spent time in the gym rather than joining United’s sessions.
This explains his fitness level being behind the rest of the squad, preventing him from participating in Saturday’s victory over West Ham.
Amorim confirmed Mbeumo will also miss Wednesday’s game against Bournemouth in Chicago.
He may feature in the final Premier League Summer Series match against Everton on August 3 in Atlanta.
Mbeumo remains patient about his United debut.
“My first aim is to make sure I’m ready for the start of the season, so I’ll keep working hard,” he stated.
The season begins against Arsenal at Old Trafford, followed by a trip to Fulham.
While United’s record at Craven Cottage is solid, it represents the kind of challenge they’ve struggled with recently.
Mbeumo’s former team, Brentford, have been particularly tough opponents, winning two and drawing one of their last three matches at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Mbeumo scored in the first of those games, sealing a 4-0 victory in August 2022, prompting United’s £155m spending spree on Casemiro and Antony.
Chief executive Omar Berrada and technical director Jason Wilcox aim to correct such excess now.
Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha fit into Amorim’s 3-5-2-1 system as the two number 10s.
Both were convinced by a vision beyond the current campaign, despite the lack of European football, a feature offered by other suitors like Newcastle and Tottenham, now managed by Mbeumo’s former Brentford boss, Thomas Frank.
“Of course, I spoke to some others because I wanted to hear their projects but the Manchester United one was very good for me,” he said.
“Ruben [Amorim] says ‘we are people who like winning, and we want to be the best team’, which is what we will try to do.
“I’m someone who likes a challenge. Manchester [United] are a big club. I think it’s a great opportunity and I wanted to be part of it. That’s why I chose the project.”
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