UNITED SPECIAL Dendoncker admits he wanted to join United
ANDERLECHT’S Leander Dendoncker has spoken out after being linked with a move to United.
The defensive midfielder was the subject of discussion last summer before Jose Mourinho landed Nemenja Matic.
And he has said he would be keen to make a move to Old Trafford, saying: “When you play for Anderlecht and you have the chance to go there, you don’t hesitate.”
The Belgian club’s president, Roger Vanden Stock appeared to talk a move up for a reported €38m fee when he said at the time: “I have a lot of experience. I’ve only opposed myself to a transfer once.
“That was Aruna Dindane, and that didn’t end well. So, if a club really wants Leander and that it’s financially good for us, he’ll leave.”
The player, who featured against the Reds in the Europa League last season, admitted the rumours were a distraction.
And he has given his view of the situation.
He said: “If it was as concrete as was being said, if they wanted me at all costs, I’d already be there.
“When you play for Anderlecht and you have the chance to go there, you don’t hesitate, but Anderlecht had their bit to say. Everyone had to agree.
“For a club to pay what they were asking for, the club needed to be concretely interested. If Anderlecht asked for a lot of money, it’s because they knew it would be difficult, and, at that time of the year, the price was over exaggerated.” VICTOR Lindelof will have had welcome flashbacks as he watched Axel Tuanzebe play without fear against Swansea on Tuesday night.
After coming under the radar a little following several years in Benfica’s reserves, the defender had nothing to lose when parachuted in against Bayern Munich in the Champions League last year.
But centre-back is one of the more difficult positions to immediately hit the ground running in the Premier League and Jose Mourinho addressed the situation within weeks of Lindelof’s arrival.
Unlike the Henrikh Mkhitaryan issue a year ago, doubts have not been allowed to fester, with Mourinho using the mantra of easing Lindelof in ‘step by step’ amid the imperious form of Eric Bailly and Phil Jones.
The pair’s remarkable partnership at the heart of defence conceding just two goals together all season - should have eased the spotlight on Lindelof, who did not play for 35 days after his debut in the European Super Cup.
The Swede instead became United’s unofficial midweek player in both the Champions League and Carabao Cup before his first meaningful league appearance against Huddersfield on Saturday.
Once Jones hobbled off, after a trademark full-hearted tackle, it felt like a pivotal moment for Lindelof long before Town’s Aaron Mooy and Laurent Depoitre ran riot.
Could the Iceman thrive on his baptism of fire and finally announce himself as a United player, or would the heat of Huddersfield’s terriers and a raucous home support freeze him?
It was hard to watch.
Lindelof may be paid handsomely, but it was difficult not to feel sorry for him after he emerged from United’s dressing room on Saturday, with both the hood of his gillet and the hood of his tracksuit jacket pulled over his head. Peering out, Lindelof could just about make out the dozens of boisterous United fans who braved the rain after the game in the hope of a rare autograph. But he was not about to stop. Rather than taking him out of the firing line, Mourinho did the right thing in keeping faith with Lindelof in what was a Premier League environment against Swansea in the Carabao Cup. But he appeared to second guess himself at times, rarely hitting those trademark through balls with any real conviction, and still felt a little vulnerable in getting sucked in further forward despite having both Chris Smalling and Tuanzebe back at base. Swansea did not particularly target him, but second balls and lofted passes were causing a few nervy moments when Lindelof had to be at his decisive best in hooking the ball clear while back pedalling. Even Marcus Rashford could Ciaran Kelly