Tielemans: 'I owe Villa the world, but United are above them'

Youri Tielemans has granted his first in-depth interview as a Manchester United player after sealing his move from Aston Villa for £35m in July, according to BBC Sport. The 29-year-old Belgian midfielder returns to Old Trafford after the club pursued him unsuccessfully on two previous occasions: first in 2019 following his Leicester loan spell, and again in 2022 when United were waiting on Frenkie de Jong's decision.

«I am very thankful to Aston Villa. I owe them the world. It is a great club and they have put me back to my best level,» the midfielder explains. «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».

Tielemans highlights the promising understanding already building with captain Bruno Fernandes, having shared just 26 minutes on the pitch together in United's PSG draw. The signing aims to provide creativity and control in United's midfield, freeing Fernandes to operate further forward and allowing the team to dominate possession rather than relying solely on counter-attacks.