Youri Tielemans has described joining Manchester United as a dream move. The Belgium international midfielder, who joined from Aston Villa, is eager to help the club push up the Premier League table from their current 13th position.
Tielemans made 25 appearances and recorded four assists for Villa last season before making the move to Manchester. He said his first experience of Old Trafford as an opponent left a lasting impression.
"Manchester United is a massive club," Tielemans said. "Playing at Old Trafford for the first time as an opponent was a big moment for me."
He pointed to the club's ambition and the quality of the summer signings as other motivating factors for his transfer. The 29-year-old also expressed a strong desire to mentor younger players at Carrington.
"I want to show them the right way to train, look after themselves, and handle the pressure," Tielemans added. "If they can learn from what I do and have a great career, that would make me very proud."
Tielemans has already made an impact, providing an assist for Shea Lacey in the recent 3-2 home defeat to Brighton. That result left United with four points from their opening four league games, sitting eight points behind leaders Arsenal. Michael Carrick's side have scored seven goals but conceded the same number. The team's recent form shows they have taken just one point from the last nine available, a concerning trend as they aim for a top-four finish and its 90-minute goal of Champions League football.
With several players including Luke Shaw and Amad Diallo currently sidelined, Tielemans' experience is seen as vital. He will be looking to build on his early link-up with top scorer Bruno Fernandes, who has three goals this season. The club's data highlights that United have averaged 1.75 goals per game but have struggled defensively, conceding an average of 1.75 per match. Their current points per game average of 1.0 puts them significantly behind the pace required for their seasonal objectives.
The immediate focus is on Sunday's trip to Craven Cottage to face 18th-placed Fulham. United drew 1-1 with Fulham in their last meeting in March 2025. A win would provide a platform to climb the standings ahead of a busy period and is key for improving their points tally.
Tielemans is expected to be in contention for the match as United chase their second league win of the campaign.
The report in full is at Hindustan Times Sports
