Manchester United have reportedly initiated talks with Marouane Fellaini regarding a new contract and have tabled an offer to the midfielder.
According to a report by The Mirror, Manchester United have opened contract talks with Marouane Fellaini and are believed to have also tabled an initial offer for the Belgian midfielder. Jose Mourinho regards Fellaini as a key squad member and has supported him through several ups and downs.
Marouane Fellaini’s Manchester United career has been nothing short of a roller coaster ride ever since he first stepped foot into Old Trafford. He was signed in a £27.5 million deal from Everton, and his was the only deal that the Red Devils managed to secure in the summer of 2013 as David Moyes took charge at Old Trafford.
As United finished 7th that season, Fellaini endured a rather disastrous season which led to him being at the receiving end of a lot of brutal criticism from the fans. However, last season, he was a regular part of the first-team squad under Mourinho.
Fellaini improved under the Portuguese manager and even donned the captain’s armband in a match against Sunderland last April. Last season, the Belgian played 43 games across all competitions in the previous campaign, scoring three goals while providing one assist.
Although Fellaini has only made one start so far in the new season, the player has become a crucial member of the United squad. Viewed majorly as a tactical option rather than an option as a player, the midfielder has come through for the Red Devils time and again.
When reports surfaced of Nemanja Matic’s possible transfer to join United, Fellaini was expected to be pushed down the pecking order. Moreover, he was also accused on inconsistency on the field. Howeve, Mourinho has resorted to using Fellaini as a dependable resource while deploying Matic frequently.
This system has worked to benefit everybody. Fellaini’s consistency has improved greatly while Matic has been given the freedom and space to make the most of his position. Subsequently, United’s overall performance in the midfield has improved remarkably, with Paul Pogba, in particular, having more freedom to attack.
Considering the way things have turned out, signing a new deal with Fellaini seems almost necessary for Manchester United. He is a key member of the squad now – perhaps even a member the club cannot do without. Fellaini has definitely come a long way since Mourinho took over, and can go further by signing a new deal with the club.
