Youri Tielemans has expressed his gratitude to Aston Villa, stating he owes the club “the world,” but he also acknowledged that Manchester United represent a step up in class. The Belgian midfielder joined United this summer after they triggered a £35 million release clause in his contract, following a stellar season at Villa where he helped the club secure the Europa League trophy.
Tielemans' Long-Awaited Move to United
Tielemans had been on United's radar for some time, with the club having seen two previous attempts to sign him fall through during his time at Leicester City. However, United finally secured his signature on the third attempt, and Tielemans is relishing the opportunity now afforded to him.
“There had been two times that I spoke with the club, but it did not achieve anything,” he told the BBC. “I was very calm. I was not expecting much this summer, to be fair. I was just focused on my football, on the World Cup, and on trying to perform at my best for my country.”
Gratitude and Ambition at Old Trafford
Tielemans acknowledged that while he is thankful to Villa, he believes United are a level above. “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,” 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.”
Villa Success and United's New Era
Tielemans made 37 appearances for Villa last season and scored in their Europa League final triumph over Freiburg, a memorable night for Unai Emery's side. Now, he aims to add further goals to United's midfield, with the club back in the Champions League under the guidance of Michael Carrick.
Tielemans hopes to contribute significantly as United look to improve on last season, and his partnership with Bruno Fernandes is already showing promise. He will also reunite with Marcus Rashford, having played alongside the England international at Villa two seasons ago.
Reflecting on their time together at Villa, Tielemans added: “He was great. There had been so much talk about him, bringing pressure and the media around him, but he was so good. He was very humble and hard-working, and from the first training session, you could tell his touch and acceleration were just amazing. That was what we needed at the time. He did many good things, and hopefully he can bring them here.”
