Man United given Fernandes transfer mistake verdict despite Tielemans deal
Manchester Evening News · Connor O'Neill · 2026-08-17T11:39:21+00:00 · nguồn gốc
Man United told pulling out of transfer was a mistake as 'signing of the summer' shot down
Manchester United have added six new faces to Michael Carrick's squad this summer, but Jamie Carragher believes the club have made a mistake
Jamie Carragher has told Manchester United they should have signed Mateus Fernandes instead of Youri Tielemans. Fernandes was a target for United earlier this summer, but they were unwilling to match the fee agreed by Spurs with West Ham United, which was a guaranteed £85m without add-ons.
United instead sealed a bargain £35m raid on Aston Villa to snatch Tielemans after a proposed £43m deal for Atalanta star Ederson collapsed following a medical. Reds boss Michael Carrick has also bolstered his midfield options with the £50m signing of Andrey Santos from Chelsea.
However, Carragher believes United should have done all they could to beat Tottenham to a deal for Fernandes.
"I was a little bit worried when I saw United linked with Fernandes because I thought that could be a good signing," he said on the latest episode of The Overlap Fan Debate.
"I just looked at him and his age and was surprised United didn't go for Fernandes. They said it was too expensive but was it that expensive?
"I know £85m is a lot but you’re never going to get a really top midfielder now for £50m."
Tielemans, 29, has 244 Premier League appearances to his name, having joined Leicester City from Monaco in 2019, before moving to Villa on a free transfer following the Foxes’ relegation in 2023.
But Carragher believes: "The thing with Tielemans, I was watching the Super Cup and I'd just seen that Man United were on ITV playing Leeds, so I put it on.
"It just came to me a little bit – Tielemans was taking a corner, and it come to me, he's a good player, don’t get me wrong.
"But you'd almost feel like he should have been at United a few years ago, then gone to Villa – not being at Villa, then gone to United.
"I'm not saying he's had his best days, but it almost felt like the wrong way round. The last three years should have been at United, and then he gets sold to Villa."
Carragher's claims come after Tielemans was described as the 'signing of the season' by John Obi Mikel and former United goalkeeper Ben Foster.
Former Chelsea man Obi Mikel said: "For me, it's Youri Tielemans. Honestly... how the f*** did Manchester United get him for £35million? That's a f****** steal. I watched him before and during the World Cup, and you can see that this is a player.
"Obviously, we all know how Tielemans plays, he can play as a six, an eight or a 10 and when you have a player that can play anywhere, it gives you the variety to change the way you want to play. Tielemans is that guy.
"He scores goals, he's dangerous from set pieces, he's brilliant on the ball, and he rarely gives it away. The only thing people can say is that he's not the quickest, but he reads the game so well.
"He is very intelligent with and without the ball. When I look at all the midfielders that have transferred to different clubs [this summer], the best one is Tielemans."
While Foster said: "I still think Youri Tielemans is the signing of the summer so far. What a bit of business that is. I’ve been watching the window so far - Tottenham and Arsenal spending a lot of money, but I still think Tielemans is the best signing.
"For £35million, he is a ready-made, good to go, starting 11 player and I think if you can spend that money on a starter, it is worth every single penny."
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