Marouane Fellaini is a 'vital' player for Manchester United says ex-boss David Moyes: 'He's a modern day footballer'

  • Manager David Moyes brought Marouane Fellaini to the club while in charge 
  • Fellaini has come under criticism at points for his style of play and form 
  • But Moyes believes he is an important part of the Manchester United squad
  • He also praised Wayne Rooney's decision to return to boyhood club Everton 

Former Manchester United manager David Moyes has dubbed Marouane Fellaini a 'vital' player for his old side.

Moyes brought Fellaini to the club during his first and only summer in charge. The Scot was criticised for the arrival of his ex-Everton charge, and Fellaini came to be regarded as a symbol of his short regime.

But the Belgium international has gone on to establish himself as a key cog under both Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho, playing 28 league games last season.

David Moyes has described Marouane Fellaini as a vital squad member at Manchester United

David Moyes has described Marouane Fellaini as a vital squad member at Manchester United

Fellaini was brought into United while Moyes was in charge of the Old Trafford club

Fellaini was brought into United while Moyes was in charge of the Old Trafford club

And Moyes believed the giant midfielder was always going to be a useful player for the Old Trafford side.


Moyes told ESPN FC: 'Well, bringing Marouane Fellaini was part of what I hoped he would come to United and play in different games.

'He was never someone who was going to play in all the games at United. He was someone that was there, his size is a problem to the opposition, it's also something which helps you, Manchester United you've seen many times now have used him a more advanced role.

'I used to get criticism at Everton because we played him there, he's got brilliant chest control, taking it down with his chest, he's as good as anyone in the world actually and he's a good footballer, but he was never somebody who was going to come and play every single game.

The giant Belgian has been used frequently by a succession of managers at United

The giant Belgian has been used frequently by a succession of managers at United

'As you rightly said, if you look at the games that he played under Louis van Gaal and now under Jose Mourinho, he's vital. 

'He's a modern day footballer, he covers a lot of ground, he's a decent passer without being a great passer, he can get you some goals, he helps you out in both boxes with his stature and he was something which we didn't have at Manchester United and he was a player who was brought in to add to the squad.'

One player Moyes decided to keep at United was Wayne Rooney, handing him a new four-year contract and making him the club's highest paid player.

Moyes was also the manager who chose to hand Wayne Rooney an extended contract

Moyes was also the manager who chose to hand Wayne Rooney an extended contract

Rooney struggled in the years that followed, although following a prediction by Moyes, he did become United's record goalscorer.

Following that feat the striker decided to bow out and join his boyhood club Everton this summer in a bid for more action.

Moyes believes his former side have made a clever decision by signing him up: 'I think it's a really good move for Everton. I think even at the end of Wayne's time at Manchester United he was still scoring goals so the one thing Wayne is, he's a brilliant finisher, a natural finisher.

But the Scottish manager praised Rooney's decision to move back to Everton this summer

But the Scottish manager praised Rooney's decision to move back to Everton this summer

'He'll have to play differently now than he's done in the past, but I think it's a big thing for Everton as well. It shows that they're in business, they want to challenge the top teams and even if they get a good year out of Wayne, I think it's a good move to get Wayne back and I do think Wayne will score goals.

'I think it's the one thing he can do as well as anyone in the country as his goal scoring record proves, he's got as good a goal scoring as anybody, if not better than everybody. 

'So, I hope he does it for Everton and I think this year, I think it's a good move for Everton.'