Youri Tielemans has publicly apologized for comments that caused frustration among Aston Villa supporters this week. The 29-year-old midfielder, who completed a £35 million ($47 million) transfer to Manchester United in July after the club triggered a release clause in his contract, recently suggested that his new side holds a higher status than his former team.
Addressing the controversy on Instagram this past Thursday, the Belgium international clarified his stance. He stated that he never intended to offend anyone or the institution of Aston Villa Football Club, expressing his massive respect and gratitude for the three years he spent with the team. Tielemans admitted his mistake regarding his choice of words and promised to be more careful in the future, while wishing the club the best moving forward.
Tielemans joined Aston Villa from Leicester in 2023 and played a key role in helping the side end a 30-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League last season, even scoring in the final against Freiburg. Despite his contributions to Villa’s success, he had previously remarked that there are clubs above Villa and identified Manchester United as one of them, noting that his move to Old Trafford represented the culmination of years of dedication.
While many acknowledge that Manchester United possesses a significant global profile as 20-time English champions, the comparison upset Villa fans who felt slighted by the suggestion that their club was smaller. Tielemans, who joined a United squad that finished one spot above fourth-placed Villa in the Premier League last season, is currently preparing for his debut with his new club. He is expected to make his first Premier League appearance for Manchester United during their season opener against Hull on August 22.
