Youri Tielemans has expressed that adapting to Michael Carrick’s vision for Manchester United has felt as effortless as “smelling football.” The experienced midfielder, signed for £35m from Aston Villa last month, made his debut during the club's pre-season tour, featuring in the 1-1 draw against Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg.

Having started his career at Anderlecht at just 16, Tielemans has accumulated 579 career appearances, making him well-prepared for the demands of Carrick's structured play. He noted, “He has got his structure. He wants to have the ball, he wants to press in certain ways... it is just logical things in my opinion.” He emphasized the importance of teamwork, stating, “It just needs to gel together,” while highlighting the freedom to express offensive skills in the final third.

Despite a challenging previous season with only 25 starts in the Premier League due to injury, Tielemans is confident in his fitness. Discussing a hamstring issue he faced during the World Cup, he clarified, “I do not think I am a player that I absolutely need a rest.” He remains focused on alerting the manager if he feels unfit, emphasizing that such instances are rare.

Tielemans revealed that Manchester United had shown interest in him in 2019 and 2022, but it wasn’t until now that a transfer materialized. He confirmed, “Not that I am aware of” any competition for his signature when United activated his release clause.