Portuguese outlet Sapo Desporto this week features a long interview with former Manchester United full-back Alex Telles.
The 31-year-old, who left the Red Devils for Al-Nassr last summer, claims to hold some great memories from Old Trafford, despite his struggles to keep a place as a starter there.
Telles had interesting comments about his competition with Luke Shaw for a spot in the team, acknowledging that the English player deserves to hold his status at Manchester United for so many years.
“It was a mixture of adaptation and [the fact that] they also have a great player in Luke Shaw, the best left-back in the Premier League. In my first year we shared the games and the place in the starting eleven,” Telles told Sapo.
“But we got on really well, he’s a friend of mine, he’s got a lot of quality. Under those circumstances, with him having been at the club for a long time, I managed to play 25 games a season. 50 games at a club like United [in two years] is good. It was very good for my career.”
The Brazilian also details his move to Saudi Arabia. He claims he had been speaking to Cristiano Ronaldo about the move, and ended up getting convinced by the former Manchester United teammate to go join him there.
“Cristiano Ronaldo was a very important factor in me coming here. We exchanged messages beforehand, my agent was involved, but obviously, being the legend Cristiano Ronaldo, the greatness that he is, that we’ve known since Manchester United, clearly made it easier for me to come.
“We talked a lot, he told me what the club was like and that he was looking forward to me coming. I’m happy to have an athlete and human being like him… with all his dedication to getting me here. So all the effort I put in for myself is also for him, for Al-Nassr and for all the players who are here.”
Alex Telles was signed by Manchester United on a €15m deal from Porto in 2020. He stayed at the club for two years, making the 50 appearances he mentioned.
In 2022, he was sent to Sevilla on a loan, and after returning from his spell in Spain, he got sold to Al-Nassr on a €4.6m deal last summer.
