When Youri Tielemans made his professional debut for Anderlecht against Lokeren, Michael Carrick, now his boss, still had five years left to run on his own playing career at Manchester United. That goes some way to underline Tielemans’ longevity at the top.
Tielemans was a phenomenon in Belgium when he made his pro debut in 2013 aged 16. Only Lamine Yamal made double figures Champions League appearances at a younger age than Tielemans, who had achieved that by the time he was 17. At 18, he’d played more than 100 professional matches.
Now, at 29, with 668 career appearances in the legs, Tielemans is facing the very real prospect of surpassing Lionel Messi (701), and possibly Cristiano Ronaldo (720), for the most games played before he turns 30.
A return to the Champions League means United face a minimum 48-game season. The more likely number is somewhere in the mid-50s.
And so by the time a trip to Bournemouth comes on the final weekend of the season, Tielemans could well have cruised past Messi’s record. Deep runs in the cups and Ronaldo may be sweating too.
With that in mind, meet Manchester United’s new marathon man.
Youri Tielemans’ longevity at the top since making his debut has been remarkable
The midfielder, still only 29, has made 668 career appearances already
Tielemans cannot stop smiling as he sits down to chat inside United’s five-star team base for this week’s training camp in Ireland.
There is plenty on the agenda: his first phone call with Carrick, his ‘really natural’ link-up with Bruno Fernandes, and also an insight into the role he expects to play for United this season.
But first it’s the issue of minutes, of wear and tear, and whether he can be counted on for what, if all goes to plan, could be a 60-odd game campaign for United.
‘Yes, I am [confident],’ he says defiantly. ‘I feel very good, actually. I had a little issue during the World Cup, which is sorted now, and I feel back 100 per cent fit.
‘Obviously, pre-season is all about building up fitness for the season, but, yeah, I feel great. I feel like I am ready to go, and in 10 days’ time [against Hull] we will be there.’
Tielemans is refreshingly honest. Thirteen years as a professional will do that.
He doesn’t shy away from the fact that he missed 21 games for Aston Villa last season through ankle and calf problems. Nor does he gloss over the fact he clocked up 62 appearances during a gruelling 2024-25 season.
At the World Cup this summer, Tielemans reached a limit that his body could not fight against.
‘It was just that last game,’ he explains. ‘It was just an overload of too many games, too many minutes, and unfortunately my body could not cope with it anymore.’
Tielemans senses a shift in the room as he, plainly, recounted Belgium’s final act in the United States.
But he knows his game, he knows his body, and where others hold reservations, he has trust and belief that, after signing a five-year contract, he’s still got plenty left in the tank.
‘The thing is, at the World Cup, I think we played 120 minutes against Senegal, and from there we had less time in between games,’ he continues.
‘So we played the US I think three or four days later, and then three days later we played against Spain. In the warm-up, my body just switched off for some reason.
Tielemans is part of the United squad on their pre-season tour of Ireland this month
‘Now, I do not think I am a player that I absolutely need a rest. Obviously, there is a lot of games and the manager needs to manage the team, but when I am good, I am good, you know… it does not happen often.’
There is a steeliness in Tielemans eyes that is befitting of someone who plays for a club the size of Manchester United. A club that, had things shaken out differently, he could have turned out for as early as 2019 when he was first approached.
That was when he was leaving Monaco, only for Tielemans end up at Leicester.
United came back in for him again in the summer of 2022, only to end up signing Casemiro and Christian Eriksen in central midfield instead. Tielemans would have been forgiven for thinking the opportunity to head to Old Trafford may have passed him by.
So, now he’s here, replacing the void left by Casemiro, does he feel any sense of pressure at stepping into the Brazilian’s shoes?
‘Not really, because we are all different players,’ Tielemans adds. ‘He has different qualities, he had a different career path than I have. I just try to be myself, to bring my own qualities to the team, and to enjoy my time here. But it does not add any pressure at all for me.’
At £35million, a release clause which we now know had been hiding in plain sight to the rest of the league, he is a bargain that those inside Manchester United believe could prove to be the pound-for-pound the league’s most valuable signing of the summer.
He played a central role in helping Aston Villa – a club he says he ‘owes the world’ for restoring him to his best level – win the Europa League against Freiburg in Istanbul and has the Premier League proven tag that Ineos and United hold in such high regard.
Beyond just the numbers, United have been crying out for a rhythm-setter. A metronome who can help the team control matches. In his own words, it’s the ‘smelling football’ philosophy Carrick is hoping to have Tielemans bring.
‘He wants to have the ball, he wants to press in certain ways,’ Tielemans explains, revealing one of his early tactical conversations with Carrick.
‘It might be different than what you are used to, what I have been used to before, but it is logical things in my opinion. It is just smelling football, and that is what I have been doing from when I was young at Anderlecht. So for me, nothing changes.
‘But it just needs to gel together. When you follow those principles, then you can add your offensive qualities, especially in the last third where everything is a bit more about freedom, without obviously overcommitting and keeping the defensive line in place. Then I think we can do good things.’
Having played as a deep-lying defensive No 6, a box-to-box No 8 and more advanced as a No 10, what does Tielemans see as his best role to help take United back to the top?
The midfielder signed this summer from Aston Villa – a club he says he ‘owes the world’ to for helping to reignite his career
‘I just try and play forward as much as I can,’ he says, ‘either to Bruno [Fernandes] or the front line, to try and put them in positions that they can attack with freedom and that they can create and use their qualities.
‘I have played different roles in my career. So yeah, I am not just glued to one system or one role. I try and do a bit of everything.
‘Being that link between the defence and the attack, I think that suits me the best.’
He will be a key mentor in a young group, too, alongside the likes of Tyler Fletcher (19), Kobbie Mainoo (21) and fellow new signing Andrey Santos (22).
‘I just try to be myself, and it all comes in a natural way,’ Tielemans concludes.
‘I do not try to boss anyone around because no one likes that anyway. So I just try to be myself, be natural, and then obviously with good performances it helps others to follow.’
Leading by example at the very top level is all Tielemans has known for the past 13 years. It’s why Messi, Ronaldo, a place in the record books, and the game’s biggest prizes, are all in his sights now he’s finally here at Manchester United.
