Belgium national coach Marc Wilmots hopes Marouane Fellaini will find a new club in January after falling down the pecking order at Manchester United.
Fellaini, 27, looked certain to leave Old Trafford when Louis van Gaal arrived at the club after the World Cup in 2014, but proved to be a crucial part of the team during the backend of his first season.
However, the Belgian midfielder has only one Premier League match this season and Wilmots, who has previously endorsed Eden Hazard’s departure from Chelsea, believes the national team will only benefit if Fellaini finds first-team football before the European Championships next summer.
“A player who does not play for his club is annoying for a coach,” Wilmots told Le Soir.
“Fellaini could play to support the attack, as the No.6. He has a very good technique, very good ability to track back and recover. Maybe he will try to find a new challenge in January, if it is possible.”
The tall Belgian has been forced to make do with substitute appearances and has often proved to be Van Gaal’s Plan B at United.
In fact, only Anthony Martial (20.5 mins) has required fewer minutes per aerial duel lost in the Premier League than Fellaini (21.6 mins) for United this term.
For more stats on Marouane Fellaini, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
