Teden Mengi has opened up on his Manchester United and his relationship with Harry Maguire ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash between Luton Town and Erik ten Hag’s side at Kenilworth Road.
After missing the 3-1 defeat by Sheffield United, Luton’s rising star has been passed ‘fully fit’ to feature against his former employers this weekend.
And it promises to be a rather emotional occasion for Teden Mengi, the Manchester-born centre-back having spent well over a decade at United before leaving for The Hatters in August 2023.
Speaking to The Times, Mengi admits that the personal touch displayed by Rob Edwards played a key role in his decision to up sticks and head south, the Luton boss using a tactic straight out of the Sir Alex Ferguson playbook as he made the 21-year-old feel wanted and cared for before putting pen to paper on a long-term contract.
Teden Mengi explains Manchester United departure
“As soon as I heard about Luton, I had to do what was best for me,” says Mengi, who made two first-team appearances for United under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and had a loan spell at Wayne Rooney’s Derby County.
“Rob just asked me to describe myself. He asked me what I was like under pressure, and I said; ‘I don’t really feel under pressure. I feel like I’ve been under pressure for most of my life’.
“He said; ‘What can we expect from you?’. I said; ‘Confidence. I like to play football, be on the ball, good passing, quick, strong and dominant’. Then Rob said; ‘What kind of person are you? What are you like with your family?’.
“From that, I just knew this man actually cares about me. I’m very close to my family. Not many people ask me about my life outside of football. I’m happy that Rob has come into my life. It’s what I needed. He’s taken me under his wing and given me so much confidence to just go and show what I can do.”
Harry Maguire could start vs Luton
Edwards’ faith in a player completely unproven at this level has been repaid with interest, Mengi one of the breakout talents in an increasingly-impressive debut Premier League campaign for Luton.
Sunday’s clash could pit the former England under-20 international alongside Harry Maguire, the Manchester United man having become something of a mentor for Mengi during their time together at Old Trafford.
“Harry Maguire helped me a lot as a player, helping me develop,” Mengi explains. “And, if I needed any advice, I could go to Harry (about) dealing with things like being in the public eye.”
Maguire was excellent in United’s 2-1 win at Aston Villa last time out. A result which cut the gap between the two Champions League-chasing sides to just five points.
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