It was third time lucky this summer in the history of Youri Tielemans and Manchester United.
United looked seriously at the Belgium midfielder in 2019, after Tielemans had impressed in an initial loan spell at Leicester. And again in 2022 as they spent too long holding out for Frenkie de Jong to decide if he was prepared to leave Barcelona.
But it was this July, while the 29-year-old was on World Cup duty, when the Old Trafford outfit made their move, triggering a £35m release clause to snap Tielemans up on a five-year deal from Aston Villa.
“There had been two times that I spoke with the club, but it did not achieve anything,” he recalled.
“I was very calm. I was not expecting much this summer, to be fair. I was just focused on my football, focused on the World Cup and trying to perform my best for my country.
“But you know every summer something can happen, and obviously I was aware of the clause.
“I am very thankful to Aston Villa. I owe them the world. It is a great club, we did amazing things, and they have put me back to my best level. But there are clubs above Villa, and Manchester United is one of them.
“It is a great achievement for any footballer to end up here. It means you have done well in your career. But it does not end there. I want to be successful.”
Tielemans cuts a relaxed figure as he conducts his first extended media interview since his switch from Villa, taking time to personally shake hands with all the journalists present.
He positively beams at points, noticeably when he is asked whether – given he scored Leicester’s winner in the 2021 FA Cup final and then the opener for Villa in their Europa League triumph over Freiburg in May – if he can bring goals to Manchester United.
“That’s the aim,” he replied.
It is also clear from his expression a partnership with skipper Bruno Fernandes is developing.
Senior Manchester United officials noticed it in Gothenburg last weekend, even though the pair were only on the pitch together for 26 minutes in the 1-1 draw with Paris St-Germain.
Credit: bbc
