Fellaini: I will fight for first-team football in Manchester United

Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini has expressed a desire to compete to re-gain his place in the Red Devils’ strongest XI.

The Belgian international was heavily linked with a move to join Serie A side Napoli during the summer transfer window, but due to his ankle injury – the move was not materialised.

However, the 26-year-old is focused to earn a place in Louis van Gaal’s starting XI.

“I want to fight for my place,” Fellaini is quoted as saying by the Guardian. “The coach wants to play with the 11 players who make the best team. I want to be part of that.

“I’ve had a meeting with the coach before the start of the season where he told me that there is a lot of competition in midfield. I told him that I wanted to compete with the other players for a place in the starting XI.

“Louis van Gaal is a good coach. We have a lot of team meetings and he analyses much – other teams, our own players at training, a lot. Everywhere he has been, he was successful.”

Fellaini joined Manchester United from Everton in a deal worth £27.5 million in September 2013 and has made 21 appearances for the club last season.