World Cup captain says Man United held talks to try and sign him twice before reviving interest this summer

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Utd Report

·12 August 2026

World Cup captain says Man United held talks to try and sign him twice before reviving interest this summer

Youri Tielemans has revealed that Manchester United tried to sign him twice before eventually securing his signature this summer.

The Belgium captain completed his switch from Villa Park to Old Trafford last month after having his £35 million release clause activated by United.

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Tielemans discloses previous United contact

Ahead of tonight’s pre-season clash with Leeds United in Ireland, Tielemans revealed (via Samuel Luckhurst): “There have been two times that I spoke with the club, but it did not achieve (amount) to anything… I think it is a great achievement for any footballer to end up here.”

It was reported around the time he made the move that Tielemans instantly green-lit the Red Devils transfer as soon as he was approached by INEOS chiefs.

Youri Tielemans has already shown @ManUtd fans his quality 👀
– Wednesday, 15 July 2026

Aston Villa were desperate to keep hold of their talisman, but were ultimately rendered powerless due to his exit clause, which was presumably added when he joined the Midlands outfit from Leicester City back in the summer of 2023.

Why United pushed for Tielemans this summer

Over the last three years, the 29-year-old has been an integral cog at the heart of Unai Emery’s midfield, playing a vital role in the side overseeing two top-four finishes, making their return to the Champions League for the first time in over 40 years and being crowned Europa League champions in May.

Sensational from Youri Tielemans 🤯 An absolute rocket to give Aston Villa the lead in the Europa League final 🚀 📺 TNT Sports & HBO Max
– Wednesday, 20 May 2026

Alas, shelling out a fee as low as £35m for such an experienced and proven player would’ve been a no-brainer for United as they looked to rebuild the squad in the aftermath of Casemiro’s release.

Tielemans made his first appearance in red last weekend when playing for just under half an hour in the Reds’ 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain. In his brief cameo, he completed 100 per cent of his passes attempted (21/21).

He boasts eight seasons’ worth of top-flight experience thanks to his spells with Villa and Leicester, and begins his United tenure with 244 appearances and 18,785 minutes of Premier League action to his name.

Isabel Ryan Isabel, 25, is a football writer who has previously gained experience in the industry as the editor of Stretty News, along with work on Caught Offside, Last Word on Football and Give Me Sport. She is now the editor of UtdReport.