Did You Know? Five facts about Manchester United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka
The Premier League is back in business and already there are a number of players who are getting their fans excited.
One of those is new Manchester United full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who put in an eye-catching display in the Red Devils’ 4-0 victory over Chelsea in the opening game.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer splashed £50million on the highly-rated full-back after he’d impressed at Selhurst Park ever since making his top-flight debut in February 2018.
Wan-Bissaka was a key player for Palace last term.
The 21-year-old, who is embarking on just his second full campaign in senior football, look far from fazed one bit by the transfer fee in his first match at Old Trafford.
But how much do you know about one of the Red Devils’ big-money captures? Here’s five facts about Wan-Bissaka to share with your friends.
Leading Man
Although playing for a club trying to survive rather than win the league means there will likely be more defending to do, Wan-Bissaka’s defensive figures last term were nothing short of impressive.
The right-back made the second highest amount of interceptions in the Premier League with 84 (only bettered by Watford midfielder Etienne Capoue’s 86) and the third most tackles with 129 (only bettered by Everton’s Idrissa Gueye’s 142 and Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi’s 143).
Change of Role
Like a lot of modern day full-backs, the Londoner started his as a forward and played in an attacking role until the 2016/17 season.
It was in a training session in which he was asked to play against Wilfried Zaha in a right-back role that the Eagles staff decided that was the best position for him.
Looking at what has happened since then it’s easy to see that Palace definitely made the correct call.
Close Call
Wan-Bissaka nearly never had the opportunity to change position as it’s claimed that he was nearly released by Palace.
At the age of 14, it’s been reported that he was turning up late for training and was tired due to poor food choices.
This resulted in him being dropped to the bench but, after holding discussions with the Selhurst outfit, he was kept on for an additional three months and turned things around.
Pay Day
It’s been reported that Wan-Bissaka is picking up around £80,000-per-week since signing for United back in June.
This is eight times the £10,000-per-week he was collecting at Palace so not a bad pay rise at all for a 21-year-old.
The defender also put pen-to-paper on a lengthy five-year deal at Old Trafford and is the club’s sixth-biggest signing behind Paul Pogba, Harry Maguire, Romelu Lukaku, Angel di Maria and Fred.
England or DR Congo
An England Under-21 international, Wan-Bissaka has been tipped to earn a senior Three Lions call-up in the near future.
However, until that happens, the talented full-back is still eligible to play for DR Congo – his father’s birth country.
In fact, he has appeared for DR Congo at youth level, playing in an 8-0 defeat against England Under-17s in 2015.