Lindelof backs “top talent” Anthony Elanga to shine for United and Sweden
Victor Lindelof believes that his compatriot Anthony Elanga has the talent to have a great future for Manchester United and Sweden.
The pair started both red draws 2-2 against Aston Villa on Saturday, which got Elanga a lot of praise from Bruno Fernandes and interim manager Ralf Rangnick, after an impressive performance.
With Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcus Rashford excluded, Anthony Martial seemingly on his way to the front door and Jadon Sancho fighting for consistency, Elanga took the opportunity to impress.
Healthy after making his first Premier League start of the season, the Swedish U21 international hopes to make it back-to-back top start for the first time in his career, in Brentford on Wednesday.
With seven goals from eight U21 matches for the national team, Elanga will already have caught the attention of the senior team, which is led by Lindelof.
But after impressing Rangnick at Carrington, the 19-year-old has the chance to kick in and earn more senior minutes at club level as he pulls away from academy football.
Lindelof has sung Elanga’s praise and his desire to continue to improve.
To talk to the club’s official website, United’s number two said: “Of course I talk a lot with him. He is a great talent and I am very happy for him, that I get more and more minutes in the club.
“He’s a young player, a good talent, who comes in here every day and really wants to improve his game. He works very, very hard and I’m happy for him.
“If he continues to do the things he is doing at the moment, I think he will have a fantastic future ahead of him. It’s all about being humble and continuing to work hard.”
With a decisive World Cup final awaiting Sweden in March, Lindelof did not rule out that Elanga would force himself into the national team if he continues to impress at Manchester United.
“Iceman” added: “Maybe, in the future, we’ll see. We have quite a few exciting young players in Sweden at the moment.
“It’s a very, very positive thing obviously for me as captain, because it’s always nice to see it – young players coming into the team.
βTo be honest, I do not read much [of any press coverage in Sweden about Elanga]. Of course, if you are in United and young and Swedish, there is of course a lot of talk about you as a player.
“Yes, I think, as I said, he is a top talent who, if he continues to do the things he does at the moment, he can have a bright future ahead of him. It’s nice to have him in the club too and I try to help him in any way I can. β
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