Victor Lindelof has told Anthony Elanga he has the world at his feet - if he doesn’t allow success to go to his head.
The Sweden winger, 19, has been one of the few shining lights in a disappointing campaign for Manchester United this season. Elanga has been rewarded with a first international call-up for his country’s crucial World Cup play-off against the Czech Republic this week.
Lindelof believes Elanga will easily handle the pressure, as long as he stays focused and doesn’t get carried away by his early rave reviews. Elanga has scored three times in this, his breakthrough season - twice in the Premier League and once in the Champions League.
“I’ve spoken to him and said: ‘Stay humble, keep working hard, and keep doing your thing. ‘Keep your feet on the ground and work hard,” Lindelof told United Review. “Because even if you’re young and you manage to come to this level, it’s a great thing, but staying at this level is also hard because you need to really keep working hard.’
“He’s a great talent, still very, very young but he’s got some really, really great qualities as a player. He’s very fast with great technique and he’s got an eye for goal. If he just keeps on working hard, stays humble, and keeps his feet on the ground, I think he can have a great future ahead of him.
“He’s still very, very young so I think it’s important to let him develop in his own time, but he’s a great talent. Of course, I always try to help players and help team-mates if they need my help. That’s the kind of person I am, I always want to help people, so of course I talk to him. He’s from Sweden, so it makes sense that I speak to him as well. I’m also the captain of the national team so for me to do that just comes naturally.”
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Red Devils boss Ralf Rangnick has previously spoken of the joy Elanga has brought to United's play having thrown him in at the deep end this season. Elanga scored a memorable goal in their Champions League last-16 tie away to Atletico Madrid.
Rangnick told BT Sport last month: "He is playing as though it is a dream come true, it is a joy and fun to watch him play, I wish a few other players would take him as an example and as a role model. Football is an important sport, even more so for the supporters, and it is a ball game.
"Anthony, in all the games that he has played so far, just shows that he's playing with all the passion, all the fun and all the joy. He's just enjoying himself on the pitch and he's fully aware of his strengths, his assets, his weapons. He's always trying to play and show those weapons. "
