---
title: "Manchester United: Fans react to Axel Tuanzebe claim"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-united-fans-react-to-axel-tuanzebe-claim/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Manchester United Football Club"
published: "2022-01-12T13:10:42Z"
modified: "2022-01-12T13:10:42Z"
---

# Manchester United: Fans react to Axel Tuanzebe claim

**Axel Tuanzebe’s agent believes Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard and his rivalry with Manchester United impacted the defender’s stay at Villa Park, [ESPN](https://www.espn.com/soccer/soccer-transfers/story/4566683/man-uniteds-axel-tuanzebe-left-aston-villa-due-to-steven-gerrard-arrival-agent) report.**

And, as to be expected, a number of United fans have been reacting to the comments on social media.

\[freshpress-poll id=”384369″\]

The 24-year-old recently cut short his season-long loan in the Midlands to join [Napoli](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10382001/Manchester-United-Axel-Tuanzebe-joins-Napoli-loan-cutting-spell-Aston-Villa-short.html) on a temporary basis.

Tuanzebe [failed](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/axel-tuanzebe/leistungsdaten/spieler/342046) to make a start after Gerrard took over from Dean Smith and played just [eight](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/axel-tuanzebe/leistungsdaten/spieler/342046) minutes of Premier League football since the end of November.

As reported by [ESPN](https://www.espn.com/soccer/soccer-transfers/story/4566683/man-uniteds-axel-tuanzebe-left-aston-villa-due-to-steven-gerrard-arrival-agent), Tuanzebe’s agent and brother Dimitri believes that Gerrard’s Liverpool association and therefore rivalry with United impacted the centre-back’s chances at Villa Park.

> “Following the arrival of Steven Gerrard at Villa Park, it felt as if the rivalry between Man United and Liverpool came to life.”

Tuanzebe’s contract at Old Trafford expires in [18 months time](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/axel-tuanzebe/profil/spieler/342046), with [ESPN](https://www.espn.com/soccer/soccer-transfers/story/4566683/man-uniteds-axel-tuanzebe-left-aston-villa-due-to-steven-gerrard-arrival-agent) adding that the defender is still highly thought of in Manchester.

### United fans react

[@utdreport](https://twitter.com/utdreport/status/1480573488981291015?s=21) shared the claims regarding Gerrard and Tuanzebe on Twitter. This is what these United supporters had to say in reply, with many slamming the Villa boss and one labelling it as ‘mad’.

**“I truly can’t stand Gerrard. Rude to me irl too.”**

[Credit: @JonDenton](https://twitter.com/JonDenton/status/1480580387638235136)

**“Surely not?”**

[Credit: @MrChrisJessup](https://twitter.com/MrChrisJessup/status/1480587539857780746)

**“Pathetic if true! Was rooting for Stevie G at Rangers too.”**

[Credit: @iamJermaineP](https://twitter.com/iamJermaineP/status/1480586097826619399)

**“Wow”**

[Credit: @S\_Enanda](https://twitter.com/S_Enanda/status/1480588783707959305)

**“This is mad lol”**

[Credit: @zhashank](https://twitter.com/zhashank/status/1480578077977497600)

**“That’s why Scholes is clear of slippy g”**

[Credit: @YSDftbl](https://twitter.com/YSDftbl/status/1480574347899129859)

***In other news: [‘I’m crying’, ‘We are back’ – Many MUFC fans erupt as major move ‘almost done’.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-united-news/man-utd-manager-latest-pochettino/)***