Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen believes Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba will have a massive impact in their debut campaign at Old Trafford.
Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba will be Manchester United’s standout summer signings this season, according to former United assistant manager Rene Meulensteen, who expects them to outperform fellow arrival, Andrey Santos. Speaking exclusively to Sport Witness, Meulensteen was asked which of Manchester United’s three midfield additions he expected the most from.
“If you ask me which of the three midfield signings, I expect the most from, I would say Tielemans and Baleba over Santos,” he said before adding, “I really liked what I saw from Baleba at Brighton. He is a powerful, explosive player. And Tielemans brings that composure and intelligence.”
Manchester United invested heavily in rebuilding their midfield during the summer following the departure of Casemiro and an injury to Manuel Ugarte. They initially spent €53.6 million to bring Andrey Santos in from Chelsea before adding Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for €41 million.
The Red Devils then completed their midfield overhaul late in the window by signing Carlos Baleba from Brighton in a deal worth €75.9 million. The Cameroon international is yet to make his debut as he continues to recover from injury, but Meulensteen is already excited by what he can bring to Michael Carrick’s side.
What Baleba and Tielemans bring to the table?
Baleba’s physical qualities will complement Tielemans’s technical and tactical intelligence, with the Belgian’s experience proving crucial in high-pressure matches. Meulensteen believes Manchester United could potentially field Baleba alongside Kobbie Mainoo in certain fixtures, but warned that such a combination would leave the midfield lacking experience when pressure increases.
“If you play a midfield pairing of Baleba and Mainoo, you’ve got a very young dynamic,” he added. He also said, “You can function in certain home fixtures at Old Trafford. But in tight matches or the Champions League, you probably need Tielemans’ experience in there to add a little bit of composure and calmness to the midfield.”
Tielemans has already had the opportunity to demonstrate those qualities since arriving from Villa. He has featured four times across competitions and has registered an assist, setting up a goal in United’s 4-0 Champions League victory over Sabah.
His early performances have given Manchester United encouragement that the €41 million investment can prove worthwhile, while Meulensteen expects the midfielder’s influence to increase as he becomes more accustomed to Carrick’s system.
Baleba, meanwhile, will be hoping to make his first appearance once he has fully recovered. His explosive running and physical presence will add another dimension to Manchester United’s midfield, particularly against teams that look to dominate possession.
Tielemans and Baleba will carry the weight of Manchester United’s midfield ambitions on both domestic and European fronts, with their proven composure and power expected to define the campaign.