Axel Tuanzebe - gone

[Legion]

Decent at Championship level. Hope it all works out for him.

[LukeJames]

Weirdest transfer of the window.

[Jimsta]

Tuanzebe Thank you for the promotion season that is why i will have a bit of respect for you but not good enough.
Please Villa stop going down the loan route only if there is a option to buy at the end of it.

[Clive W]

Looks like Axel’s brother is a bit miffed

From today’s DT (but not Percy!!)


Axel Tuanzebe's agent brother claims Steven Gerrard overlooked him due to Man Utd's rivalry with Liverpool
Tuanzebe joined Aston Villa on a season-long loan from United in August but that deal was cut short this month
By
James Ducker,
 NORTHERN FOOTBALL CORRESPONDENT
10 January 2022 • 5:24pm
 Axel Tuanzebe's agent claims Steven Gerrard overlooked him due to Man Utd's rivalry with Liverpool
Axel Tuanzebe will spend the rest of the season on loan at Napoli CREDIT: REUTERS

Steven Gerrard has been accused of allowing Liverpool’s bitter rivalry with Manchester United affect Axel Tuanzebe’s chances of first-team football under him at Aston Villa.

Tuanzebe joined Villa on a season-long loan from United in August but that deal was cut short this month, with the defender moving to Napoli for the remainder of the season.

Following Gerrard’s appointment in November, Tuanzebe was limited to just eight minutes of football under the former Liverpool captain, having started six of Villa’s first 11 Premier League games and both League Cup ties when Dean Smith was in charge.

And Tuanzebe’s brother and agent, Dimitri Tuanzebe, believes United’s fierce rivalry with Liverpool was a factor in Gerrard’s decision to overlook the 24-year-old, whom he said was now relishing the prospect of a fresh start at Napoli.

“Axel is very excited to begin a new chapter in his football career, playing abroad and for a club with so much history behind it and fans who worship football,” Dimitri, who runs Millennial Sports Management, told ESPN.

“Axel didn’t decide to move until it became very clear that he isn't the manager's first-choice centre-back and the Napoli offer was very tempting.

“I have a lot of mixed emotions when it comes to Axel's time at Villa. He is loved by the fans as he contributed highly to the club's success in the Championship where he was one of the key players that helped Villa return to the Premier League.

“However, following the arrival of Steven Gerrard at Villa Park, it felt as if the rivalry between Man United and Liverpool came to life.

“For the avoidance of doubts, Axel was very open to staying at Villa, he loves the fans, being in Birmingham but he also has a career that he can only build and reach his full potential in an environment where opportunities to play are fair.”

Tuanzebe - who is contracted at Old Trafford until June 2023 with the option of another year - is now hoping to help Napoli to their first Serie A title for 32 years, with his brother insisting United backed the loan switch.

“Man United was very supportive of the move, made sure that it was in favour of Axel's career and Napoli did everything within their power to make the deal possible,” Dimitri said.

“After multiple meetings with interested clubs' sporting directors and managers, we all concluded that Napoli is the best option.

“Axel was persuaded by the clear path into the team, also a success story of players who have enjoyed playing time since they signed for Napoli after a lack of opportunities at their previous clubs.”
 

[sickbeggar]

What a weird take by his brother. It should have been obvious he wasn't the managers 1st choice centre-back when Smith was here, let alone Gerrard.

[Risso]

What a weird take by his brother. It should have been obvious he wasn't the managers 1st choice centre-back when Smith was here, let alone Gerrard.

And 'loved by the fans' is overstating things a bit.

[sickbeggar]

yeah, he sounds a bit bitter. Id love to know what this rivalry thing is about though. Did Steven come into training with a Liverpool top on taunting him about being shitter than Slabhead and Phil Jones? Harsh but fair imo.

[itmustbe_it is!]

What a knobbish thing for his brother to say. I liked Axel for what he did for us in the promotion season but he wasn't more than a backup in the Prem.
Goodbye and good luck

[Rudy Can't Fail]

What a weird take by his brother. It should have been obvious he wasn't the managers 1st choice centre-back when Smith was here, let alone Gerrard.

Tuanzebe’s brother and agent, Dim Tuanzebe.

[eamonn]

From Brum Live:

But Tuanzebe's decision to join Serie A side Napoli might well have backfired, with the defender yet to start a single game for the club since arriving in Italy last month.

In fact, he has only played 10 minutes of league football, which came on his Serie A debut against Sampdoria.

Manager Luciano Spalletti also opted not to include Tuanzebe in his 25-man squad for the European knock-out stages.

The Napoli boss claimed that depth in the centre-back position, compared to elsewhere on the pitch meant he became a casualty of the late cuts.

Tuanzebe is set to become a free agent in the summer with his contract at United due to end at the end of this season.

[Hookeysmith]

 Never rated him - if he comes from United no doubt he thinks he is Billy big bollocks

[paul_e]

Never rated him - if he comes from United no doubt he thinks he is Billy big bollocks

yep, I find it weird that he didn't seem to realise that he was 4th choice with us, what made him think he deserved more than that? I'm just glad that the last loan spell should mean there aren't calls to get him back every window, one of the most overrated players we've had for years.

[Risso]

He wasn't even as good as Hause as back up. Very much 4th choice, and probably not as good as Chambers either. No surprise he's not getting any game time in Italy either, he should have gone to a decent Championship team, that's his level.

[Walmley_Villa]

Definitely destined for an obscure Turkish team. I never saw any improvement in him from his first time with us. His brother is a good agent getting Utd to keep offering him new contracts.

[algy]

He made a huge mistake (IMO) not trying to force a move to us the summer when we were promoted.  12 months of regular Premier League football, even in a struggling side, would've done him the world of good and he'd most likely either still be with us, or at a bottom-half Premier League club.  As things are, I can see him having a decent career in the Championship, but there's no way a top flight team is going to bring him in as anything other than a 4th choice backup.