The Spanish press has erupted in criticism over Sevilla coach Quique Sánchez Flores’ baffling decision to bench Manchester United loanee Hannibal Mejbri this season.

Initially, Mejbri's season started on a high note. The young Tunisian midfielder had impressed at Manchester United, even scoring a stunning goal in a 1-3 home loss to Brighton in September. Erik ten Hag, the United manager, had praised his "perfect" performance against Burnley later that month.

However, by October, Mejbri's opportunities dwindled, leading to a loan move to Sevilla in January, a move he was enthusiastic about, expecting the Spanish league to suit his style.

Contrary to his expectations, the loan spell turned disastrous. A training ground fallout led to his temporary exclusion from the squad, and despite being reinstated, Mejbri has barely played. With only six appearances and a total of 101 minutes of play this year, his development has taken a severe hit. Since March 3rd, he's managed just 11 minutes on the field.

Local newspaper Diario de Sevilla has harshly criticized Flores, accusing him of "systematically ignoring" Mejbri. The paper suggests that both Mejbri and Tottenham's Alejo Véliz have been caught in the crossfire of a dispute between the coach and the club's sporting management.

Sevilla's own performance has been lackluster, sitting 13th in the league with just 41 points from 37 games. The newspaper laments the wasted potential, stating fans had high hopes for Mejbri due to his technical and creative prowess.

Mejbri’s camp is understandably frustrated, viewing this stint in Andalusia as a significant setback. With reports indicating that Manchester United plans to offload him in the summer as part of a financial reshuffle by INEOS, his future remains uncertain.

The controversy over Mejbri’s limited playtime has sparked a debate, with many questioning Flores' management and the broader implications for young talents on loan.