Axel dreams of leading the side at Old Trafford
AXEL Tuanzebe admits he dreams of being a future United captain as he aims to establish himself as one of the key leaders at the club.
The 22-year-old has impressed upon his return to Old Trafford this season but has struggled for playing time after an unfortunate injury.
Tuanzebe stood out on the club’s pre-season tour last summer and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer decided to keep him at Old Trafford despite serious interest in securing his signature on loan.
The young centre-back has impressed with his maturity in the first-team, and he admits he wants to be considered a dressing room leader at United.
“Yes, that (being made permanent captain) is a target of mine,” he told The Official Manchester United Podcast.
“I wouldn’t say necessarily to be captain but just to be a leader for the team. Just someone that other team-mates can turn to. “There are other problems in football as well that a lot of people do not see.
“I always say to the lads, ‘If you ever need to talk, just call me’, especially in the younger age groups with the lads I have grown up with.” Tuanzebe was given the armband earlier in the season when he captained United against local side Rochdale in the Carabao Cup and it is something he will never forget.
He added: “Yeah, that is something that I’ll remember for the rest of my life.
“I thanked the manager afterwards, because it was out of the blue, he didn’t have to do it. There were so many more senior players in that team who could have easily been the captain.
“But I think he recognised that I could use it a bit more.
“He just told me to keep going and hopefully there will be many more opportunities when I am captain.”
That is something that I’ll remember for the rest of my life
Axel Tuanzebe on captaining United against Rochdale