Youri Tielemans made his Manchester United debut in a 1-1 draw against Paris St-Germain in Gothenburg, coming off the bench in the second half.
The Belgian was only on the pitch for 26 minutes, but the combinations he produced with Bruno Fernandes drew an appreciative response from senior figures at the club.
Tielemans replaced Mason Mount, who had been arguably United’s standout player of pre-season before being forced off after just 20 minutes.
Head coach Michael Carrick confirmed to Norwegian broadcaster VG that Mount had come off as a precaution after taking a hefty blow to his foot.
The former Chelsea midfielder was seen walking freely past reporters to the team bus roughly an hour after the final whistle, easing fears over his fitness.
Tielemans was a surprise signing when United triggered a previously unknown £35m release clause in the Belgian’s contract at Aston Villa, securing him on a five-year deal.
The 29-year-old, who made his professional debut for Anderlecht at just 16, produced some tidy cross-field passes and simple lay-offs during his cameo against PSG.
He also showed his awareness defensively, making a sharp sprint to close down Khvicha Kvaratskhelia before winning the ball and moving it safely away from danger.
It was the small, instinctive combinations with Fernandes, however, that allowed United to ease out of tight situations and build up the pitch with real confidence.
Fernandes was United’s standout performer last season as the club finished third, contributing nine goals and 21 assists to return them to the Champions League after a two-year absence.
Director of football Jason Wilcox had spoken glowingly about Tielemans upon his arrival, saying: “Youri has consistently been one of the most outstanding midfielders in the Premier League throughout the past seven years.”
Wilcox added: “He will add further composure, creativity and leadership to our squad.”
“He has all of the technical qualities, as well as the ambition and mentality, to thrive at Manchester United,” Wilcox continued.
On that early evidence in Gothenburg, those words appear well-founded, with Tielemans looking capable of relieving some of the creative burden that has long fallen on Fernandes.
Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford will rejoin the United squad for their training camp in Maynooth, Republic of Ireland, along with Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martinez.
Rashford had joined Barcelona on loan in July 2025, but the La Liga club failed to trigger a £26m option to buy the 28-year-old at the end of the season.
The winger has not featured for United since December 2024 and has not been part of the squad since January 2025, when he moved to Aston Villa after falling out with former manager Ruben Amorim.
His number 10 shirt has since been handed to Matheus Cunha, who is also expected to join the squad in Ireland after a minor injury ruled him out of the Gothenburg match.
United train at the Carton House hotel in Maynooth before a friendly against Leeds United at Croke Park on 12 August, followed by a meeting with AC Milan in Wroclaw on 15 August.
Carrick, who has a long personal history with Rashford, said: “I’ve played with him. I played in the game he made his debut, so we have a history. We have got a full squad this week in Dublin and Marcus is part of that.”
