Fellaini a very important player for me – Mourinho

Fellaini hugs Mourinho after scoring a superb goal against Hull City

Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, has described midfielder, Marouane Fellaini, as a very important player to his plans and tactics at Old Trafford.

United have triggered a clause in Marouane Fellaini’s contract that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2018.

Fellaini signed a four-year deal with the option of a further year when he joined from Everton for £27.5m in 2013.

United boss Jose Mourinho has activated the option despite uncertainty over the 29-year-old midfielder’s future.

Fellaini was booed by his own fans last month but scored in the EFL Cup semi-final win against Hull on Tuesday.

The Belgium international ran to Mourinho to celebrate his goal in what seemed to be a show of recognition for the faith shown in him after a difficult period, which included giving away a costly penalty at Everton on 4 December.

Speaking after Tuesday’s victory, Mourinho said: “He has a very strong mentality and has coped well.

“He knows he is a very important player for me.”

Born in Etterbeek to Moroccan parents, Fellaini played youth football for Anderlecht, R.A.E.C. Mons, Royal Francs Borains and Charleroi S.C. before joining Standard Liège.

After winning the Belgian First Division and the Ebony Shoe as a Liège player, he moved to England to join Everton.

At Everton, he was the club’s Young Player of the Season for 2008–09, when the club were losing finalists in the FA Cup.

After five years at Everton, he transferred to Manchester United in September 2013.

On the international stage, Fellaini has been a full international for Belgium since 2007, earning over 70 caps.

He represented the team at the 2008 Olympics, the 2014 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2016.