Manchester United’s new signing Marcel Sabitzer was in awe of Old Trafford when he played at the stadium in a Champions League clash for RB Leipzig back in 2020.
United announced the loan signing of Sabitzer in the early hours of this morning after spending deadline day finalising his move from Bayern Munich. The midfielder has been acquired to bolster Erik ten Hag’s options for the rest of the season as, before approaching Bayern, it was confirmed that Christian Eriksen will be sidelined for around three months with an ankle injury.
In a video shared by the Austrian’s former club Leipzig on Twitter, he appeared mesmerised by Old Trafford prior to a group-stage game against the Red Devils on October 28, 2020. United thrashed the Bundesliga side 5-0, with Marcus Rashford netting a hattrick in just 18 minutes.
Sabitzer on Old Trafford
Sabitzer says: “I’m just happy to be here (Old Trafford) because I used to see this stadium on TV as a kid and I always wanted to come here. So being here as an opposition is something very special. I’m looking forward to the game.”
Auch unser Captain Marcel #Sabitzer blickt mit großer Vorfreude auf das Match!
🗣 „Als Kind habe ich #OldTrafford im Fernsehen gesehen und wollte immer einmal hier hin – das ich nun als Gegner da sein kann, ist etwas Besonderes!“#MUNRBL #UCL #MissionChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/K0vrIR0iUu
— RB Leipzig (@RBLeipzig) October 28, 2020
At the time of visiting, there were no fans allowed in stadiums in England due to the COVID outbreak, so he missed on the prospect of hearing a packed Theatre of Dreams full of the United faithful in full voice, roaring on the team under the floodlights on a European night.
It all awaits him now though; he’ll get to soak up the exhilarating atmosphere as a Red himself, walking through the tunnel to ‘This Is the One’ with over 70 thousand fans making M16 bounce with noise. There is no support like United’s, and it was likely a huge factor in his decision to join Ten Hag’s men.
