Youri Tielemans’ acknowledgement of Manchester United’s past transfer interest in him set the stage for him to prove himself in a major way in his playing career.
The 29-year-old Belgian midfielder is now on the verge of completing a dream transfer to Old Trafford after the Red Devils made a move for him this summer.
Youri Tielemans has a release clause that Manchester United have now activated and the Red Devils are prepared to pay Aston Villa his £35m transfer fee.
United have a longstanding history with Tielemans over transfer rumblings and the soon-to-be former Aston Villa midfielder has now been identified as a key target.
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Youri Tielemans’ reaction to Man Utd and Tottenham’s transfer interest showed where his mentality was back then
Manchester United target Youri Tielemans had initially spent time on loan at Leicester City in 2019 during his spell with French side Monaco.
Tielemans’ successful spell at the Foxes saw Leicester City pay a reported club-record fee of around £40m to ensure that he remained at the King Power Stadium.
The former Leicester City player’s success in England meant that other suitors had been interested in him, including Premier League sides Tottenham and Man Utd.
Tielemans admitted that both United and Spurs had ‘flattered’ him with their interest and, above anything else, provided him with a major boost in his “confidence.”
“We’ll see which club it will be,” he said in 2019, as per Sky Sports.
“The only thing I can say is things are moving. A lot of clubs have shown interest. We will see in the next few weeks who it will be.
“Yes [I am flattered by Man Utd and Spurs interest], they are really big teams in England and in Europe. To hear those names gives me confidence. I just try to play my game on the pitch and try my best.”
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Youri Tielemans’ ‘confidence’ has shone through in England, including up to his Man Utd summer transfer
Fast-forward from 2019 to 2026 and Tielemans has only continued to improve, including becoming a key player during his time at Premier League side Aston Villa.
Tielemans left Leicester City in 2023 and moved to Villa Park, where the Belgian attracted interest from United under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag.
Outside of playing an important role under Villa boss Unai Emery, Tielemans has enjoyed an elevation in his international career by becoming the Belgium captain in 2025.
The soon-to-be Man Utd player even captained Belgium to the quarter-finals of the World Cup this summer before Euro 2024 champions Spain knocked them out.
There is no denying that the ‘confidence’ that Tielemans felt around Man Utd and Tottenham’s interest in him in 2019 acted as a springboard for his run since then.
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