Ex-Manchester United star already a “game-changer” after debut following transfer

Former Manchester United star Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been labelled as a “game-changer” after making his West Ham debut on Saturday afternoon.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka recently completed a £15 million move from Manchester United to West Ham United after the club chose to sign Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich.

Mazraoui is one of four recruits Erik ten Hag has brought to Old Trafford across 2024 so far, with  Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, and Matthijs de Ligt also signing within the last few months.

Read More: Gary Neville urges Erik ten Hag to stop two concerning Man United trends after Brighton defeat

To fund these transfers, Wan-Bissaka was one of several players who departed United this window, with others such as Mason Greenwood and Willy Kambwala contributing to the total sales of over £60 million so far.

While United fell to a 2-1 loss against Brighton, West Ham defeated Crystal Palace 2-0 at Selhurst Park, where Wan-Bissaka came on and played 28 minutes in the second half for his new club.

“Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s performance on his debut for West Ham United against Crystal Palace was a major highlight of the match,” reported Claret&Hugh, who added that he was a “game-changer” in their headline.

“However, the former Manchester United defender’s impressive display has raised further questions about the future of Vladimir Coufal at right-back.

“Wan-Bissaka’s impact was immediate. Coming off the bench in the second half, he immediately showcased his defensive prowess, shutting down Crystal Palace’s left flank. His ability to win tackles, intercept passes, and track back defensively was crucial in containing the opposition’s attacks.

“In addition to his defensive contributions, Wan-Bissaka also demonstrated his attacking abilities. He drove forward with the ball from his own half, creating the opportunity for Soucek’s goal and providing an outlet for West Ham’s midfielders.”

While Wan-Bissaka was a brilliant servant for the club across his five seasons, winning two trophies, Ten Hag ultimately deemed that new signing Mazraoui had attributes that the Dutchman felt would benefit United more than the defensive characteristics of Wan-Bissaka.

“We were looking, and we can sort [injury] problems over the left side [with Mazraoui],” Ten Hag told the press last week.

“For instance, Licha Martínez and Diogo Dalot are capable of playing there. Mazraoui is an additional one who can fill the position as long as Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia aren’t in the team.”

Ten Hag praised Mazraoui’s ability to withstand pressure on the ball—something the club desperately needs in defenders and that Old Trafford fans will love—when asked about his stylistic differences from Wan-Bissaka.

“They are different… It’s quite difficult to put him under pressure, especially in English football, that can be very beneficial,” he explained.

“There is always pressure on the ball. This is a player: one of his key attributes is it is very difficult to put him under pressure because he often finds solutions.”

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