Atletico Madrid midfielder Vilde Boe Risa has revealed her remaining emotional attachment to Manchester United as she prepares to face her former side on Thursday.
Boe Risa’s time at United
Boe Risa signed for United in July 2021, arriving at the club from Swedish outfit Sandviken. Her contract ran until the end of 2022/23, with the option to extend by a further 12 months.
She made 44 appearances for United across all competitions. The Norwegian found the back of the net eight times in that period.
Boe Risa helped United qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 2022/23. She produced an assist for Lucia Garcia’s winner against Manchester City that sealed European qualification.
She also played a key role as the Reds finished in second place in the Women’s Super League during her final season at the club.
Now in her third season with Atletico Madrid, Boe Risa is set to come up against United in the Champions League.
Ahead of the tie, she admitted that she still has plenty of love for United, although she still wants to win the game.
Boe Risa opens up on United reunion
The 30-year-old said in a press conference [as quoted by club media], “It’s a big game. I feel like I know the girls and the club, in and out, and obviously I’m still watching them play and follow them very closely. I feel like it’s my team still, even though that is Atletico de Madrid for sure. I’m excited.”
“I feel like I’m going to play against my friends and people that I miss so much playing with. It’s a special game for me and I was so happy to see that we were going to play against them in the Champions League.”
“I want to go out and press them and be aggressive and show that we’re just not here to let you play.”
“That’s the message we should send to the fans as well. I think they deserve to see more than what they saw on Sunday [in a 0-6 defeat to Spanish league rivals Barcelona]. We shouldn’t just let them play and give them everything.”
Boe Risa continued, “I think my time at United was like a really, really nice time in general. Mostly because of the team we had and the girls within the team. It was just a really nice environment to be in. For me, it was a big step up in terms of professionalism. Just being a part of a club like Manchester United is obviously massive.”
“I look back on it as a proud moment in my career and I learned so much being there. I had a great time and obviously miss it, but Spanish football is something that suits me well.”
“I feel I can realise my potential here and I’ve had a great time here as well.”
Atletico vs. United kicks off at 5.45 pm.
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Derick Kinoti
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
