Tielemans' 'big influence' at Man Utd as midfielder hopes for 'tips' from Carrick

Youri Tielemans tells of "big influence" that has led him to sign for Manchester United as he hopes to get "tips" from Michael Carrick.

Manchester United have paid his £35 million release clause which could prove to be one of the smartest pieces of business of the summer.

After a move for Atalanta midfielder Éderson broke down, the club have moved quickly to secure the experienced Aston Villa playmaker.

Rather than representing a second-choice option, Tielemans appears to fit the tactical profile Carrick is looking to build at Old Trafford.

United now have one of the Premier League's most intelligent midfielders. Tielemans has built a reputation of being to control the rhythm of a game. His passing range, composure under pressure and tactical awareness have made him one of the league's most consistent performers over the past decade.

"I have a lot of experience at 29, I am ready to push on, I'm ready to make the next step in my career, and that is why this is the perfect club for and I feel that they are ambitious in that as well, they want to win and hopefully be really good on the pitch," said Tielemans.

"That is why I chose to come here and being in that leadership role is good for me, I feel that naturally and hopefully I can give that to the team."

And he tells how former Leicester City teammate, Jonny Evans, now a coach under Carrick, played an important role in his signing.

He played alongside Evans for four-and-a-half seasons, with the pair starting the 2021 Emirates FA Cup final for the Foxes at Wembley, a fixture settled by Tielemans’ stunning winner midway through the second half.

The pair have kept in touch following their departures from the King Power Stadium three years ago.

“Jonny has been a big influence. I think he spoke with the manager about my character and my personality,”Tielemans said. “He’s been a big influence and I’ve always kept in touch with Jonny. He’s such a great guy.”

And he now believes that Carrick's coaching can give him a further edge. “I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

“Obviously, him [Carrick] being a midfielder, he can give me a lot of tips and I can learn from him inside his structure. I’m looking forward to learning from him and linking up with my team-mates.”

Tielemans faced Carrick as a player while still a teenager at Anderlecht. United faced them in the Europa League quarter-finals in 2017, with both players leading their respective sides out for the first leg, which was drawn 1-1 in Brussels.

Tielemans remembers it well, and also has fond recollections of playing in the return tie, despite United eventually winning through a Marcus Rashford goal in extra-time

“I saw the picture and it was actually really funny, when we talked to each other. It was good times and, hopefully, better times now," said Tielemans.

“Yeah, it was a great memory, Manchester United is a massive club and to play at Old Trafford for the first time, it was big. I’d never seen a stadium that big in my life before, so it was amazing.

“Once you’re on the pitches, it’s on to football and what you can do and what you’ve done your whole life, so I was very excited to play that game and now, obviously, very excited to be in those colours.

“You can feel the atmosphere and history, so to play for the home team it’s going to be nice.”