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Premier League icon Emmanuel Petit has issued a word of caution to Youri Tielemans regarding his upcoming move to Manchester United, suggesting that while it represents a step up in pressure, it may not feel entirely different from his time under Unai Emery at Aston Villa.

Tielemans’ transfer to United appeared suddenly, with the existence of a release clause in his Aston Villa contract only becoming public knowledge once the Red Devils began making their approach. The deal, reportedly worth £35 million, progressed swiftly after that revelation.

The Belgian midfielder was immediately receptive to the move, and United are now finalising his signing. The club have already secured Andrey Santos from Chelsea, and Tielemans is seen as a valuable addition to Erik ten Hag’s midfield options.

However, Petit has advised Tielemans to be mindful of the challenges awaiting him at Old Trafford, noting that the expectations at United will be relentless, though he also drew parallels between those demands and Emery’s management style at Villa.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Petit said: “I feel Tielemans is a very good player, there’s no doubt about that. But joining Manchester United is a step further, and the pressure level is completely different. You have to perform in every single game. At times, I sense it’s somewhat similar with the manager at Aston Villa.”

He continued: “Unai Emery has tried to manage top clubs before, and while I wouldn’t say he failed, there were various factors behind why it didn’t work out. But the fact that he has won so many trophies with clubs below that level says something. I get a similar feeling about Tielemans.”

Petit’s remarks suggesting Aston Villa are not a big club seem questionable, particularly given Emery’s achievements and the team’s progress in recent seasons.

Meanwhile, Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has welcomed Tielemans’ arrival but insists the club still need to do more in the transfer market to strengthen their squad.

Scholes remarked: “I think he’s a very, very good footballer. For £35 million, that’s a brilliant deal. Credit to the recruitment team because they’ve finally got moving, and it’s not easy with the tournament [World Cup] taking place.”

He added: “They still need two more midfielders. We’re trying to build a squad, not just a starting eleven. If you want to compete across all four competitions this season, you need depth, and Tielemans is a phenomenal signing. That said, I still think they’ll require more. I can’t see Tielemans and Kobbie Mainoo playing together.”

Reports from within the club suggest that United remain active in the market for another midfielder, meaning Scholes’ assessment could soon prove accurate.