Youri Tielemans has reflected on his recent transfer to Manchester United, describing it as a significant achievement in his career. The Belgium midfielder joined the Old Trafford club in July from Aston Villa, with United triggering a £35m release clause for a five-year deal. This move marks the third time United had shown interest in Tielemans, having previously considered him in 2019 and again in 2022.
Tielemans, who made his professional debut for Anderlecht at 16, acknowledged the previous approaches from United. He stated that while there had been two prior discussions with the club, they did not lead to a transfer. This summer, he was focused on his national team duties at the World Cup, not expecting a move, but was aware of the release clause in his contract.
The midfielder expressed gratitude to Aston Villa, acknowledging their role in helping him return to his best form. He noted that while Villa is a great club, Manchester United represents a step up, signifying a player’s strong performance in their career. Tielemans emphasised that joining United is not the end goal, as he aims for continued success with the club.
Adjusting to Manchester United
Tielemans has quickly begun integrating with the United squad during their pre-season tour. He made his first appearance for the club in a 1-1 draw against Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg. During this match, he was on the pitch for 26 minutes alongside captain Bruno Fernandes, with whom he appears to be developing a natural partnership. Tielemans noted Fernandes’ ability to find space, making it easier for him to facilitate forward play.
The 29-year-old midfielder has also had discussions with head coach Michael Carrick regarding his role. Carrick’s vision for Tielemans involves being “free on the pitch” and organising the team effectively. Tielemans described Carrick’s tactical approach as logical, focusing on possession and specific pressing strategies. He likened this to “smelling football,” a natural instinct he has had since his early days at Anderlecht, suggesting a smooth adaptation to the new system.
Tielemans’ arrival is seen as potentially addressing a long-standing issue for Manchester United since Carrick’s departure as a player in 2018. His ability to scheme from midfield and break defensive lines could provide Fernandes with more advanced opportunities and help the team control games, moving beyond a primary reliance on counter-attacks.
Injury Management and Familiar Faces
Despite a career that includes 668 games for club and country, Tielemans has addressed concerns about his fitness. He was limited to 25 starts in the Premier League last season due to injury and experienced a hamstring issue during the warm-up for Belgium’s World Cup quarter-final against Spain in July. He clarified that the World Cup incident was due to an “overload of too many games; too many minutes” after playing 120 minutes against Senegal and then subsequent matches against the US and Spain with limited recovery time.
Tielemans asserted that he does not believe he is a player who absolutely requires rest, stating that he knows his body well and will alert the manager if he feels unwell, though this “does not happen often.” He has played 579 career appearances since leaving Belgium for Monaco in 2017, joining Leicester in 2019, and then Villa four years later.
Several familiar faces are helping Tielemans settle into his new environment. Former Leicester teammate Jonny Evans, who remains close with Tielemans, provided a positive character reference to Carrick. Tielemans also briefly played with Harry Maguire at Leicester. Additionally, Marcus Rashford, who was a teammate at Aston Villa, has returned to his boyhood club, Manchester United. Tielemans spoke highly of Rashford’s humble and hardworking nature during their time together at Villa, praising his touch and acceleration, and expressed hope that Rashford can bring those qualities to United.
Tielemans’ first extended media interview since his move saw him appear relaxed and positive, shaking hands with journalists and beaming when discussing his potential to bring goals to Manchester United. His focus remains on performing at his best for the club.
The midfielder’s move to Manchester United was finalised in July.
Source: bbc.com