How phone call from Erik ten Hag convinced Manchester United target to reject other clubs
Erik ten Hag’s phone call played a big part in convincing Ruud van Nistelrooy to return to Manchester United despite offers from elsewhere.
The fan-favorite Dutchman, who scored 150 goals under Sir Alex Ferguson, returned to his old stomping ground in a different role this summer.
The United hierarchy took a bold decision to replace Benni McCarthy and Mitchell van der Gaag with Rene Hake and Van Nistelrooy on two-year contracts.
Both Hake and Van Nistelrooy had managerial stints on their CVs. As such, their decision to seemingly accept a demotion and assist Ten Hag on the touchline raised plenty of eyebrows.
Van Nistelrooy, in particular, attracted many headlines with his impressive managerial job at PSV Eindhoven, where he won two trophies before leaving the Dutch outfit in 2023. He also implemented a very attractive style of play at the club.
Accordingly, the 48-year-old saw multiple clubs willing to offer him an opportunity to return to management. The United legend was linked with Burnley and Leicester City during the summer.
In an interview with Rio Ferdinand for TNT Sports, Van Nistelrooy revealed how despite talks with other clubs, he ended up returning to Old Trafford.
He said: “I was on a managerial track, I managed PSV, it was an unbelievable experience. I was in talks with clubs to manage, I had my staff all ready. And then I had a phone call and I was like ‘jeez’ I never thought of it as a possibility.
“I was on a managerial track, and then I had the phone call. I was like ‘jeez’. I never thought of it as a possibility.”@RvN1776 shares with @rioferdy5 the moment Man Utd came calling ❤️
Watch Rio’s visit to Carrington in full: https://t.co/HnpnczQzvf pic.twitter.com/oNa5mZanpl
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 24, 2024
“Erik called me and talked it through. I started to love the idea.”
Under a much-changed coaching setup, United have looked a better side so far this season. The Red Devils have created plenty of chances in their opening five Premier League fixtures.
With a bit of luck and Van Nistelrooy’s input on finishing, they should start producing results sooner rather than later.