Marouane Fellaini Hints at Centre-Back Role for Manchester United

Upon signing Marouane Fellaini earlier this summer, Manchester United fans may have looked up to the heavens as if at least a small portion of their prayers had been answered.

Finally, the Red Devils had signed a strong, leading central midfielder—the sort the club had been crying out for over a period of several years.

However, it now seems apparent that the towering Belgian may line up under David Moyes at centre-back in yet another drastic change of positioning for the playmaker.

Speaking to FourFourTwo, per Mirror’s Richard Beech, Fellaini is reported as saying his attributes suit the duties of a central defender and that he’d welcome a return to the position he’s played before:

"

As a young player I played up front, on the wing, in midfield and when I started in the reserves at Standard Liege I played centre-back.

It was a good position for me because I am tall and good in the air, but I can also pass the ball. Maybe it's a position for me in the future?

"

It’s common knowledge that the 25-year-old filled in excellently as an attacking No. 10 for Moyes at Everton last season, managing to score 11 Premier League goals in the process.

Despite that successful form, however, the Belgian seems to know exactly where his limitations lie, going on to note:

"

My best position is defensive midfield. During the last few years with David Moyes I played further forward and I scored some important goals, which is why he kept me there and I liked it because I was young and learning.

"

Regardless of where Fellaini might think his best position is, what’s clearer is that the player is among the most versatile in the English top flight.

Should his claims be true that Moyes has another centre-back option on his hands, a successor to the ageing pair of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic may already exist on United's books.

So far in his Manchester United career, Fellaini has patrolled an anchoring role for the Red Devils, allowing Michael Carrick to take up more advanced positions in Moyes’ midfield.

Of course, the Scottish manager still has Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling to call upon in the centre of defence, but Fellaini is an experienced and assured option to throw into that mix.

For now at least, Fellaini’s responsibilities lie closer to the middle of the pitch, but Moyes says he is learning more about his United squad by the game, so he will soon know whether to experiment with a player he’s managed for more than half a decade.