Sunderland summer signing Thomas Meunier has explained why he chose the Black Cats over other potential destinations, even if he’d have fancied Manchester United.
Walfoot report comments from the full-back today from an interview with Play Sports. He’s been speaking to the Belgium outlet this week, including an explanation of why he’s not retiring for Belgium yet.
This time around the focus is on Sunderland, who he joined on a free transfer from Lille in the summer transfer window.
Sunderland move explained
The move was something of a surprising one, with most expecting the 34-year-old to remain at Lille. Their president has since explained his wage demands scuppered that idea.
Instead, he moved to England, the latest stop on a journey that’s seen him play in Belgium, France, Germany and Türkiye. The defender says it was a matter of not passing up an opportunity.
“You don’t always get to choose exactly where you want to go,” he said.
“Otherwise, I’d have gone to Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, or Manchester United! But seriously, they called me and were incredibly convincing.
“Their pitch was good. The conversation with the manager was, too: you spend an hour on the phone talking football, and you realize you’re dealing with a guy who simply loves the game—just like I do.
“And the fact that it was Sunderland… It just so happens there’s that documentary – Sunderland ‘til I Die – which I really enjoyed.”
Meunier is a Manchester United fan
It’s not the first time Meunier has expressed a desire to sign for Manchester United, the club he supported as a child.
“If they ever ask me, I’ll cycle there. (laughs),” he said.
“But maybe it’s better this way. Suppose I play there and have a bad time. I wouldn’t want to hate Manchester United, because I love that club so much.
“I went to watch them a few weeks ago, against Bilbao. In with the fans, singing, à fond (fully). Je suis un vrai. (I am a real one). I go to watch them at least once every season.
“But of all the home games I’ve seen in all those years, they’ve only won two. You have to have a self cruelty side to be a United supporter, right?”
Regis Le Bris impresses
He was also convinced by Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris, who he says demonstrated that he knows his job perfectly.
The French manager earned plenty of plaudits leading Sunderland to Europe in their first season back in the Premier League last year. Now he’s won over his summer signing as well.
“Going back to the conversation with the coach, what stood out was that he knows his craft perfectly,” added Meunier.
“Sometimes you have coaches with various guiding principles, and things can quickly swing one way or the other; it can get muddled, and you never really know where you stand.
“But here, the coach’s message had a clear, consistent direction. He knows exactly what he wants to do and how to do it.
“When we talk tactics and strategy, the team knows exactly where it’s heading. That’s what appealed to me, and it’s what I appreciate – because nobody likes stumbling around in the dark. That certainly won’t happen here.”
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— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) September 10, 2026
