Axel Witsel:”I have always liked Manchester United”

Axel Witsel has expressed his admiration for Premier League club Manchester United. While talking to bleacherreport.com, the Belgian admitted that he can one day pay in the Premier League. Witsel, who plays his football for Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg, was in Qutar was enjoying a midseason break with his team-mates.

When asked about his Belgiam team-mates who play in the Premier League including likes of Vincent Kompany, Eden Hazard, Witsel said: “I want to play in one of the top clubs in Europe one day. It’s true that I like the Premier League, because it is one of the best leagues in the world, for me, together with Germany and Spain. It is a very good league; it is a crazy league. A lot of my colleagues play there, but we will see. I am still young, only 26. We’ll see in the future. I have always liked Manchester United from when I was young.”

Witsel also spoke about his realationship with Belgian compatriot and United’s mid filelder Marouane Fellaini, adding: “It’s really good. I played with Fellaini at Standard Liege, so I know him well.”

But Axel rebuffed any speculations of him moving away from Russian giants yet, and responded to the talk of a possible move to Arsenal and links to AC Milan:”No, these rumors are in the newspapers. I don’t know anything about it. I am here in Qatar training to be focused on my team, Zenit, and to try to regain a good physical condition. Even during the holidays, I did not think about leaving. I am focused.”

Witsel has made 54 appearances for Belgium and represented his country during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He also stressed that Belgiam did not live up to their full potential in Brazil: “No, we didn’t achieve the maximum. Belgium has a young team, and it was the first World Cup for most players with the exception of Daniel van Buyten, I think. At Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, the next tournaments, we should try to improve on this one. It was good, but in my understanding, we can do better.”

United manager Louis van Gaal could look to bolster his midfield in January should Darren Fletcher leave, with reports claiming Valencia and West Brom are interested in the Scot.