Ruud van Nistelrooy’s potential return to Manchester United is ‘incomprehensible’ and only improves Erik ten Hag’s status and not his own.
That’s according to journalists Valentijn Driessen and Mike Verweij, who have questioned why the former striker would be interested in a return to Old Trafford as a coach under Ten Hag.
A report in the Netherlands yesterday claimed that Van Nistelrooy was set to return to Manchester United as an assistant manager under Ten Hag.
The report certainly raised plenty of eyebrows, particularly with Van Nistelrooy seemingly determined to return to full-time management this summer after leaving PSV Eindhoven last year.
He’s been out of work since that point but has been linked with jobs this summer, with Burnley putting him on a shortlist of options as they seek Vincent Kompany’s replacement at Turf Moor.
Instead, he appears set for a return to Manchester United as they rebuild the team around Ten Hag and restructure the set up after deciding to stick with the Dutch coach this summer.
A fellow Dutchman in the dressing room and at the club perhaps offers him support he has been lacking previously, and both Driessen and Verweij believe he benefits more than Van Nistelrooy from any arrangement.
Van Nistelrooy is a great at Manchester United. But yes, the reason why he is brought in that direction by Ten Hag is of course to be an extra shield for Ten Hag. Of course, Van Nistelrooy should never want that,” said Verweij.
“The only thing you do by going to Manchester United is increase Ten Hag’s credit,” says Verweij. “Are you going to let yourself be used for that, in quotes?”
“I think his name was mentioned there once when Ten Hag started working there, but he didn’t like it at the time,” added Driessen.
“He always showed himself to be very ambitious and was ready for a job as a head coach, preferably in a competition in which he had played. So, then you end up in Spain, Germany, the Netherlands and England.
“Then you can become head coach of Burnley, who are good for former players. And he is working on his way and would like to return to the Premier League. Then I find it incomprehensible that you would choose a position as Erik ten Hag’s first, second or third assistant, while you could become head coach of Burnley.
“Unless you contractually agree that you will be Ten Hag’s successor, then it is a different story. But I don’t think so…”
