Aaron Wan-Bissaka says he was more nervous about singing to his team-mates than making his debut for Manchester United .
Wan-Bissaka , a £50million signing from Crystal Palace last month, performed a rap track by Nav and Meek Mill on United’s pre-season tour here in Australia as part of his initiation.
The 21-year-old made his debut in Saturday’s 2-0 win over local A-League side Perth Glory, coming on as a second-half substitute. And he said his performance off the pitch was easily the biggest ordeal of the two.
Asked if he was more nervous singing than playing for one of the world’s most famous clubs for the first time, Wan-Bissaka said: “Yeah. I’ll stick to what I know, and that’s football. I’ve settled in well, the boys have been great and they’ve welcomed me.”
The England Under-21s full-back has been training with United for two weeks since his switch and admits it has been a huge step up from his Palace days.
Asked to identify the biggest difference since the transfer, he said: “The style of play, the way they work, the intensity. That’s going to develop me as a player. I always want to be pushed to reach my potential. Over the summer there was a lot to go through. But at the same time I’m here now and that’s my main focus.”
Wan-Bissaka has earned the nickname ‘Spider’ for his unique tackling style, but accepts he has to time his interceptions well for it to come off.
(Image: Getty)
“I don’t think I learnt it, I think it’s just the range of the legs,” he said. “I realised when I was 18 that I just had the length, so I use it to my advantage. You’ve got to time it well to make the tackles, but that comes down to concentration. You can’t afford to gamble with it, you have to time it well. After every tackle it gives me confidence.”
Although Wan-Bissaka is United’s fourth most expensive signing ever, he claimed he does not feel under any extra pressure because of the price tag around his neck.
“I try not to focus on that side, for me it’s just developing as a player and my ability to help the team going forward,” he said.
(Image: AAP/PA Images)
“I was surprised, when I walked in, everyone has been talking to me, encouraging me, with advice. That’s helped me a lot. For me it wasn’t hard. I wanted to take my development to the next level and this was the team where I thought I could do it.”
A photo emerged ahead of the transfer from Palace of Wan-Bissaka in a United shirt as a little boy, alongside his older brother Kevin, but he denies he’s always been a Red.
“When I was young, me and my brother were given the shirts to wear,” said Croydon-born Wan-Bissaka. “But Palace is my hometown, that’s where I grew up.”
