Man Utd have completed a deal to sign Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa, so what will he offer at Old Trafford?
Youri Tielemans has been a sensation in Belgium since he was a teenager. He made his debut for Anderlecht less than three months after his 16th birthday and was tipped to reach the top of the game.
Tielemans has finally reached the pinnacle of his career at 29, having completed a transfer to Manchester United.
He has represented Monaco, Leicester City and Aston Villa along the way, but there was a feeling in Belgium that signing for one of Europe’s biggest clubs was his destiny since he joined Anderlecht’s academy.
Pär Zetterberg, former Anderlecht playmaker, said when he was 17: “Tielemans is a phenomenon. There are not many players better than him.”
Mohammed Ouahbi, Anderlecht youth coach, added: “We have always known Tielemans was a super talent. Whenever anyone asked me who I thought would go far, I would mention his name first.”
Paul van Himst, Anderlecht and Belgium great, said: “With his skills and quality, he forces opponents into mistakes. He can play the long ball and launch attacks. His age is not important. He will only get better with playing matches.”
There has been a high expectation on Tielemans’ shoulders since he was a teenager, and the Belgian media will cover his transfer to United with great interest.
Tielemans has been a symbol of Belgium’s golden generation. The Belgium national team has not achieved what most predicted they would, but Tielemans has at least won silverware with Leicester and Villa.
Tielemans appeared to be another overhyped talent when Monaco loaned him to Leicester in January 2019. His move from Anderlecht to Monaco was logical for his development, despite links to Barcelona and Real Madrid, but a temporary switch to England seemed like a backwards step.
However, it was the making of Tielemans, who established himself in the Premier League with the Foxes. Leicester paid £35m to sign Tielemans after his loan spell, and he scored the winning goal in the 2021 FA Cup final.
Tielemans departed Leicester after their relegation in 2023. Villa signed him on a free transfer, and he has played a key role in Unai Emery’s success in Birmingham over the last three years.
He was dubbed the ‘Belgium Frank Lampard’ in his teenage years at Anderlecht, but Tielemans has improved the defensive side of his game in the second half of his career, particularly during his time at Villa.
“I am more mature now – 12 years later, three kids later,” he told Sky Sports last season. “The manager [Emery] has added things to my game with his tactics. It is more of a complete package.
“I feel like technically I have improved even though technical ability was always my strength. Technically, playing under pressure, the fact that I can invite that pressure and still play out of it, I feel better in those areas.
“Also, defensively especially, I feel like the manager has challenged me in that position to go for it 100 per cent and be stronger in the duels. And also the tactical analysis of the game, just trying to find better spaces on the pitch to break down the opposition.”
He still relishes getting into prominent positions, though. His goal in the 2021 FA Cup final against Chelsea, a strike from distance, and his goal in last season’s Europa League final, a volley in the box, were both Lampard-esque.
United have been attracted to Tielemans because of his all-round qualities. He is technically superb on the ball, and will be able to ease the burden on Bruno Fernandes’ shoulder of threading passes through the lines.
Tielemans has almost made more passes with an opponent within three metres than anyone else in the Premier League over the last few years, a testament to his quality and vision under pressure.
“You start scanning at a young age because you have to know where the opponents come from,” he explained. “The more you do it in training then the more natural it will be in the game. You should be trying to look over your shoulder in any situation, really.
“Sometimes it may feel ridiculous even in a passing drill but if you just get used to looking over your shoulder in a passing drill before you receive the ball then it becomes natural. Even in the street sometimes you start scanning!”
Tielemans smiled as he admitted that ‘scanning in the street’ was a joke during that particular interview. His character is another reason United have been drawn to him, with all due diligence checks coming back positive.
He is a leader, and Belgium’s national team manager Rudi Garcia said there was “unanimity on the matter between the staff and the players” when he was given the captain’s armband last year. “He is the link between the golden generation and the young players,” he added.
Tielemans also stepped up to wear the armband in his final season at Leicester, so United are signing a player who not only has bags of Premier League experience but is a stellar addition for the dressing room.
Villa did not want to lose Tielemans this summer, but were left helpless due to his £35m release clause. United deserve credit for identifying an opportunity and moving quickly to get the deal wrapped up.
The only concern about Tielemans is how much football he has played at 29. He was such a precocious talent in Belgium that he was playing regular football before most players his age.
He has already played over 650 games, even though he feels his body is as good as ever. “I feel young, I feel fresh! I am very grateful for the journey. I am looking forward to the rest of it now,” he said at the start of this year.
Tielemans will be hoping for more silverware during the next part of his journey with United.
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