Former Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini could make an emotional return to Belgium five years after leaving the Premier League giants for an adventure in China.
During the giant midfielder’s final appearance for Shandong Luneng, he was greeted by a colossal ‘tifo’ embroidered with his own face, Marouane Fellaini leaving the Far Eastern outfit as a bonafide club legend after winning one league title and three Chinese FA Cups.
It’s probably fair to say that his departure from Manchester United back in January 2019 did not bring about quite so many tears. The reaction from many sections of the Red Devils support was one more of relief than mourning, though hindsight and history arguably paints a rather kinder picture of Fellaini’s United career.
Former Man United ace Marouane Fellaini is a free-agent
Ok, yes, he was never the most popular. But, scoring a number of big goals in a number of big moments and always bringing a fighting spirit onto the pitch – almost too literally at times – Fellaini will always hold a special place in the hearts of some Old Trafford matchgoers.
Now 36, the former Everton powerhouse – a £27 million signing under David Moyes back in 2013 – is a free-agent. His contract at Shandong Luneng expired in November.
But with Fellaini’s camp now in talks over a move to Club Brugge, the 87-time Belgium international could soon be plying his trade back home for the first time since he left Standard Liege for Goodison Park 15 years ago.
La Derniere Heure report that, in addition to Club Brugge, there is also interest from the Middle East. He could yet move to Dubai or Saudi Arabia. Al-Shabab are looking to reunite Fellaini with his former Belgium team-mate Yannick Ferreira Carrasco.
But while Club Brugge would be unable to match the head-spinning finances on offer in Saudi, the Belgian giants will still harbour some hope that Fellaini makes that eventual decision with his heart rather than his wallet.
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