Youri Tielemans has finally completed a move to Manchester United that had been years in the making, and the Belgian midfielder says he harbors no regrets about how long it took to get there. The 27-year-old joined the Red Devils last month after United triggered a £35million release clause in his Aston Villa contract, a deal that came together after the club's pursuit of Brazilian midfielder Ederson stalled.
Speaking at United's pre-season training camp in County Kildare, Ireland, Tielemans revealed that this was not the first time Old Trafford had come calling. United reportedly weighed up a move for him back in 2019, as his loan spell at Leicester City from Monaco was drawing to a close, though he opted to join the Foxes on a permanent deal instead. His name resurfaced in connection with United again in both 2022 and 2023, but nothing materialized until this summer.
"There have been two times that I spoke with the club, but it didn't (come) to anything, so I was just very calm about it," Tielemans said, reflecting on those earlier approaches.
Asked whether he ever feared his chance to join United had slipped away for good, the Belgium international remained unfazed. "No, listen, I am very calm about it. When a move comes up, then if it needs to happen, it will happen," he explained. "At the times that I have been linked with the club before, it did not happen, but it is what it is. I just keep working, keep doing my thing on the pitch and then it happens."
Tielemans acknowledged he was fully aware of the release clause in his Villa contract, which ultimately paved the way for this summer's transfer. While expressing gratitude toward the club that helped revive his career, he did not shy away from framing the move as a natural progression. "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," he said. "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."
At Old Trafford, Tielemans is expected to slot into a deep-lying playmaking role, drawing comparisons to new manager Michael Carrick's own playing style. The midfielder said an early conversation with Carrick left a strong impression. "He wants to have the ball, he wants to press in certain ways. It might be different than what you are used to, what I have been used to before, but it is logical things in my opinion," Tielemans said. "It is just smelling football, and that is what I have been doing from when I was young at Anderlecht. For me, nothing changes, it just needs to gel together."
With nearly 600 senior appearances to his name across spells at Anderlecht, Monaco, Leicester and Villa, plus 90 caps for Belgium, questions have been raised about the physical toll of his career, which began at Anderlecht when he made his debut at just 16 years and two months old. Tielemans admitted he emerged from this summer's World Cup with a minor fitness concern but dismissed suggestions he is at risk of burnout.
"I do not think I am a player that I absolutely need a rest," he said. "Obviously, there is a lot of games and the manager needs to manage the team, but when I am good, I am good. Unfortunately, my body is, when it does not go well, then I will know straight away and I will alert the manager, but it does not happen often."
Tielemans' final act in a Villa shirt came in the Europa League final, a triumphant send-off before his long-awaited switch to Old Trafford. Now settling into life at United, he insists his ambitions stretch far beyond simply arriving at one of England's biggest clubs. "I think it is a great achievement for any footballer to end up here," he said. "It means you have done well in your career, that the club is following you, first of all, and then to end up here. But it does not end there. I just want to be successful, but it is a process."
Based on reporting from Independent (football).