'I left as a respected player': Marouane Fellaini has no regrets about quitting Manchester United for new career in China as he prepares for debut

  • Marouane Fellaini joined Shandong Luneng at start of month in a £10.4m deal 
  • He watched his new club beat Hanoi in the Asian Champions League on Tuesday
  • Man United's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer played the midfielder for only 31 minutes 
  • Fellaini could make debut in Chinese Super League opener a week on Friday 

Marouane Fellaini has no regrets about quitting Manchester United for a new career in China and believes he left Old Trafford as a 'respected player'.

The big Belgian midfielder joined Shandong Luneng at the start of this month in a £10.4million deal, ending a five-and-a-half-year stay at United.

After watching his new club beat Hanoi in the Asian Champions League from the stands on Tuesday with his twin brother Mansour, Fellaini was asked how happy he was with the move on a scale of one to 10. 

Marouane Fellaini has no regrets about quitting Manchester United for a new career in China

Marouane Fellaini has no regrets about quitting Manchester United for a new career in China

'Er, 10 out of 10. Isn't that clear?' he replied. 'I went to Shandong Luneng now because they were interested for years already. And I felt ready for a new challenge, a new culture, a new life.


'Okay, I'm only 31 years old. But I signed for three years. Afterwards I'm 34, then it would be too late to go to China.

'I could have joined a top European club and been important there for two more years, that would have been no problem. But after 10 years and 350 games in England, I felt ready for this step. I'm happy with my choice.

'I'm already a professional for more than 12 years and everything went fine. I made my own choices and don't regret anything. I played at Standard (Liege), the biggest club in Belgium and won titles there. I went as a record transfer to the Premier League and opened doors to England for other Belgian players.

'At Everton I did well and at United I won some cups and a Europa League. The only thing missing is a Premier League title, that's true.

'But I don't dream anymore about a comeback to European top football. But maybe a comeback to Belgium, why not?'  

 The Belgian midfielder joined Shandong Luneng at the start of this month in £10.4million deal

 The Belgian midfielder joined Shandong Luneng at the start of this month in £10.4million deal

Fellaini only signed a new contract at United in June but almost doubled his earnings by agreeing a £235,000-a-week deal in China. However, he denied that his move to Shandong was driven by money.

'Not me,' he told Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad. 'I see this as a challenge at a club that has it all. Literally. You should see our medical and technical facilities. I love being here.

'With the Asian Champions League, I'll have to play two games a week here as well. I won't be able to get more rest than in England every week. But okay, it's true that the intensity is different here.' 

Fellaini was viewed by some United fans as a symbol of the club's decline since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in May 2013 after he arrived as the only signing that summer, following David Moyes from Everton in a £27.5m deal.

Fellaini signed new contract at United in June but almost doubled earnings with move to China

Fellaini signed new contract at United in June but almost doubled earnings with move to China

His awkward, combative style and lumbering gait did not sit well with those supporters who felt that he was not the right pedigree to play for United.

However, he was used to good effect by both Louis van Gaal and, particularly, Jose Mourinho and feels that he left Old Trafford with his head held high.

'My first season in Manchester was difficult, but I left as a respected player,' said Fellaini who could make his debut in the Chinese Super League opener against Beijing Renhe a week on Friday. 'I gave my very best for this club, played so many games and almost only scored important goals.

'I worked with super players and managers at one of the biggest clubs in the world. Then you can only look back with a smile. 

'I really don't have a favourite (manager). David Moyes or Louis van Gaal. I learned something from every manager.' 

United interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer played the midfielder for only 31 minutes 

United interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer played the midfielder for only 31 minutes 

Asked if he would have stayed at United had Mourinho not been replaced by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who played the midfielder for only 31 minutes after taking over in December, Fellaini responded: 'I don't know. In football there are opportunities that come and go. But I still had a contract at United, so maybe I would still be there.' 

The 31-year-old has yet to make a decision on his international future and will hold talks with Belgium coach Roberto Martinez once he has settled in China.

'We'll see,' said Fellaini. 'I don't feel like talking about that. I'm still thinking about my future as an international for Belgium. We'll see when I decide, in a week, a month, a couple of months. First, I just want to install myself in China and then I'll decide.

'I always played for the national team in all the big games. If I hadn't scored against Algeria (in the 2014 World Cup) or Japan (in the 2018 tournament), we wouldn't have got as far as we did at those tournaments.

'Behind Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard, I'm the player with the most goals from this generation. Those who criticise me don't understand football. But, look, in my teams my qualities were always respected. And it gave me nice souvenirs.' 

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