With his contract due to expire at the end of the coming season, it was always likely Young would be leaving Villa Park. Villa manager Alex McLeish knew it would be futile to even try by the time he was installed as Gerard Houllier's successor, while Liverpool were said to be in the hunt and it was claimed Young was interested. However, the 26-year-old had already decided where his future lay. It was just a question of confirming his £17million switch to Old Trafford. "There was never any doubt once I knew United were interested," Young said. "When one of the biggest clubs in the world comes after you, whether to sign for them or not is a no-brainer. "I was delighted to hear about their interest. I just wanted to get my signature on the paper." Ahead of England's Euro 2012 encounter with Switzerland in June, Young revealed the Champions League final had fuelled a long-held desire to be involved in European football's elite competition. When the opening group stage encounters come around in September, it will represent a step into the unknown for Young, who began his career at Watford. However, with 15 England caps to his name, Young has enough self-belief not to question whether he can be a success. "I have confidence in my own ability," he said. "I always said I wanted to play at the highest level. Manchester United is that. "This move gives me the opportunity to play in the Champions League and go for a 20th title. That just says it all. The history of the club is fantastic and I am delighted to be part of it." Playing for United brings its own pressures though. After two decades of gathering silverware, challengers are queuing up to knock Sir Alex Ferguson and his team off their perch, as they did themselves to Liverpool with a record 19th championship last season. Yet for every United player there is an unspoken truth that continues to drive them on, namely not wanting to be a United player that wins nothing. "I want to be part of a winning team," Young added. "From the first day I arrived, the manager has been talking about the winning mentality. "You can see the desire in training. This club is all about winning. The 20th title. The FA Cup. The League Cup. Whatever it is the club is challenging for, I want a medal round my neck." At the present time, it is not clear how Young will end up being deployed. He occupied a wide role against New England Revolution in Boston last week, but was given more freedom to roam in yesterday's seven-goal hammering of Seattle Sounders. "I can play left, right, off the front striker or as a main striker," he said. "It is the manager's decision, not mine. I just have to concentrate on my own game and wherever I am picked, do myself justice. "The manager bought me for a reason, to get assists and goals and work hard for the team. If I can do that every time I am selected, my job is done." Young's international experiences alongside Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick have made the transition easier. He was a constant menace to Seattle on Wednesday, helping to silence a crowd in excess of 67,000 that was hoping for far better from the hosts. Rooney grabbed the attention with a 21-minute hat-trick, while Michael Owen, Mame Biram Diouf, Park Ji-sung and Gabriel Obertan were also on target for the Red Devils, who now travel to Chicago for the third game of their five-match tour on Saturday.
