Man United bidder says French-Malian Dembele embodies the model for his future signings

Finnish businessman Thomas Zilliacus has outlined his vision for Manchester United, declaring that Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele represents the perfect model for the kind of player he would like to build the club around.

Zilliacus, who has confirmed plans to relaunch his bid for the Premier League giants, said United’s recent struggles under current part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe have highlighted the need for smarter, hungrier signings rather than marquee names.

Dembele, who was born in France to a Senegalese mother and Malian father, is renowned for combining flair with relentless work rate — qualities Zilliacus believes define the new generation of world-class footballers.

Speaking to The Mirror, the Finnish tech entrepreneur cited the PSG winger as an ideal benchmark for United’s future squad construction.

“Look at PSG. Ousmane Dembele is such a perfect example,” he said. “Barcelona were pretty happy to see him go.

“Now he’s got the Ballon d’Or and he’s the star player in a team where he is allowed to play the way he should. But I also think the manager has managed to get him to understand that if he wants to be a star, he has to work. And now he’s doing it.”

Zilliacus, who was previously squeezed out of United’s takeover race by Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, insisted his renewed interest is driven by a desire to restore the club’s footballing identity through structure and vision.

“Under Sir Jim Ratcliffe, it hasn’t been a roaring success. I’m sure he’s done the best he can, but in my opinion there have been some poor choices regarding players,” he noted.

“A lot of money has been put into the club, and we still haven’t seen the results.”

The Finnish investor stressed that success would depend on balance and teamwork rather than superstar indulgence.

“Football is a pretty simple game — it’s about scoring more goals than you let in. You need a good attack, a good defence, and a strong midfield,” he said. “I’d build the club around young, strong players who are already top-class but still hungry to prove themselves.”

Zilliacus is now seeking partners to join his revived bid, pledging a sustainable approach rooted in collective effort — one that, in his words, will put Manchester United “back where it belongs.”