"Tielemans" reveals previously untold details before his move to Manchester United, leaving a memorable message to his former team.
On 13 Aug 2026 GMT+7, Yuri Tielemans, Belgian national team midfielder, gave a recent interview sharing behind-the-scenes details before his transfer from Aston Villa to Premier League club Manchester United during this summer's transfer window.
Tielemans revealed that Manchester United had seriously considered signing him twice before: first in 2019 under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær, after he impressed during his loan spell at Leicester City.
The second time was in 2022 when Manchester United appointed Erik ten Hag as manager and awaited Frenkie de Jong's decision on a possible move from Barcelona. The "Red Devils" again pursued Tielemans.
Ultimately, Manchester United succeeded in signing 29-year-old Tielemans on their third attempt while he was on national duty with Belgium at the 2026 World Cup, finalizing the deal with a £35 million release clause paid to Aston Villa and a five-year contract.
Tielemans disclosed, "I had conversations with the club twice before, but nothing came of it. I stayed very calm and honestly didn't expect much this summer."
"I just focused on football, on the World Cup, and tried to perform my best for the national team. But you know anything can happen in any summer, and of course, I was aware of the release clause."
"I am very grateful to Aston Villa. I owe them a great deal. This is an excellent club. We achieved remarkable results together, and they helped me regain my top form."
"However, there are clubs at a higher level than Villa, and Manchester United is one of them. Being here is a huge achievement for any footballer."
"It means you have performed well in your career, but it doesn’t end there because I want to continue succeeding."
*Thanks to Manchester United for the image.