Youri Tielemans has issued a public apology to Aston Villa fans after remarks he made comparing his former club to new employers Manchester United sparked backlash from supporters.
The Belgium international completed a £35m move to Old Trafford this summer, with United triggering a release clause in his contract to sign the 29-year-old on a five-year deal. Tielemans had previously held talks about a switch to United on two occasions before finally making the move this window.
During United's pre-season tour, Tielemans spoke about his time at Villa Park, crediting the club with restoring him to peak form after a difficult spell. However, his follow-up comment drew criticism from the Villa faithful when he stated: "But there are clubs above Villa, and Manchester United is one of them."
The remark did not sit well with a section of Villa's fanbase, prompting the midfielder to take to social media to clarify his position. Posting on Instagram, Tielemans sought to smooth things over with the club and its supporters.
"Never meant for my words in the press yesterday to offend anyone or the institution of Aston Villa Football Club, which I massively respect and I'm grateful for the past 3 years," he wrote. "I must however admit my mistake and apologise for my choice of words, will be more careful in the future. Wishing the club the best in the future."
Tielemans joined Villa on a free transfer from Leicester City in 2023 and quickly became an important figure under manager Unai Emery. Over three seasons at Villa Park, he made 134 appearances and scored 10 goals, with his standout moment coming earlier this year when he found the net in Villa's Europa League final triumph.
Despite his contribution to that European success, the two clubs have found themselves on different trajectories domestically. Villa finished last season in the Premier League just one place and six points behind Manchester United, underlining how closely matched the two sides have been in recent times. Villa's most recent fixture saw them narrowly lose to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday, a reminder that the club continues to compete at a high level despite Tielemans' comments suggesting otherwise.
Meanwhile, Tielemans has already begun life with his new club, appearing as a substitute for Michael Carrick's Manchester United side in a pre-season friendly against Leeds United, which was played at Croke Park in Dublin.
The episode highlights the sensitivities around player transfers between rival clubs, particularly when comments can be interpreted as disrespectful to a former employer that had a significant hand in a player's career revival. Tielemans' time at Villa was widely regarded as productive, culminating in silverware, and his quick move to clarify his comments suggests an awareness of how his words landed with a fanbase he clearly still holds in high regard.
For now, Tielemans will look to establish himself at Old Trafford as United continue their pre-season preparations, while Villa turn their attention to the beginning of what promises to be another competitive campaign following their strong showing in Europe last term.
Based on reporting from Independent Football and BBC Sport Football.