Tahith Chong and Aaron Wan Bissaka during pre-season training for Manchester United.

How Chong and Wan-Bissaka became Reds

Tuesday 06 August 2019 15:16

Manchester United youngsters Tahith Chong and Aaron Wan-Bissaka have been speaking about their unique - and very different - journeys to Old Trafford.

The pair are looking forward to the new season, which starts this weekend, but found time recently to have an in-depth chat with Inside United - the club’s official magazine.

In the latest edition, which is on sale from today (Tuesday), Chong explained how his path to United began at the age of eight.

“It’s a long story,” the 19-year-old revealed.

The front cover of September's edition of Inside United, which is now on sale.
"I moved to Holland from Curacao (a Dutch island in the south Caribbean) when I was eight. I was with Feyenoord in Holland and, when I was 16, I moved to Manchester to play for United.

“We discussed it [the move to United] with my family, my mum and dad, and I think they felt proud as well. Of course, I had to move to Manchester and they came as well, so that made it easier for me,” he added.

As for Wan-Bissaka, his career began in completely different circumstances, with the youngster coming through the youth system at Crystal Palace.

The defender has enjoyed a whirlwind 18 months since making his Premier League debut for the Eagles in February 2018, and has emerged as one of the division’s most dependable full-backs in that time.

As a result, the Reds came calling this summer and Aaron has admitted it was an offer he could not turn down.

"I was excited,” he told Inside United. “A team like United being interested in me: it means something. It means that your hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed.

“The move came together after the Under-21 European Championship in the summer, and it was only when it was practically going to happen that I realised it was actually coming true.

Tahith and Aaron, pictured with Jesse Lingard, during pre-season training.
"When I got to the ground, I didn’t expect it to be that huge and that great. The staff were good to me," he added.

To read the full interview with Tahith and Aaron - where the pair speak about pre-season, life in Manchester, the campaign ahead and much more - make sure to get your copy of September’s edition of Inside United, which is on sale now in newsagents and at the Old Trafford Megastore, as well as online, where you can also subscribe and have every issue delivered to your door.

The latest mag also contains interviews with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his coaching staff ahead of the 2019/20 campaign, Fred’s thoughts on pre-season, a comprehensive review of Tour 2019 and all the latest news with our youth and Women’s teams.

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