Youri Tielemans has apologised after saying Manchester United are “above” Aston Villa. He spent three years at Villa Park before leaving, and the backlash came quickly enough for the new United midfielder to move in the other direction just as fast.
The apology was published by Metro. Tielemans wrote: “Never meant for my words in the press yesterday to offend anyone or undermine the institution of Aston Villa Football Club which I massively respect and I'm grateful to for the past three years. I must however admit my mistake and apologise for my choice of words, will be more careful in the future.”
Tielemans' first United days
The comments landed while Tielemans was still settling into life at United. He made his unofficial debut against Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg, then came on against Leeds and scored in the penalty shootout as United won 5-4 on penalties.
His wider point on the club hierarchy was plain enough in the original interview. Speaking to Metro, Tielemans said: “I am very thankful to Aston Villa. I owe them the world. It is a great club, we did amazing things, and they have put me back to my best level. But there are clubs above Villa, and Manchester United is one of them.”
The response from Villa supporters makes sense. Tielemans had been there for three years, and the line about United being above them was always going to land badly after that move.
The club comparison behind the reaction
The comparison was not as wild as the reaction made it sound. Manchester United finished third in the 2025 Premier League standings, while Aston Villa finished fourth. United also won four of their last five Premier League matches, with Villa winning three of their last five.
Tielemans' own form has been solid too. He has averaged a 7.44 rating across his latest five-match sample, which helps explain why United moved for him in the first place and why the football side of the story has not gone away.
United have made only three first-team signings this summer, including Andrey Santos, and Tielemans is already one of the more talked-about arrivals. The apology should calm things down, but the quote will stick around until he gives people something else to talk about on the pitch.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
