Manchester United’s search for a new permanent manager came to an end last month with the arrival of Erik ten Hag but it could have been different if Cristiano Ronaldo did not step in
Video Unavailable
Messi world’s highest paid athlete with Ronaldo also featuring in Top 10
Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly blocked the proposed arrival of Antonio Conte to Manchester United earlier in the season.
The Italian was heavily linked with becoming the new United boss following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s departure back in November. However, Conte joined Tottenham Hotspur instead and helped spearhead the club back to the Champions League, pipping Arsenal on the final day.
Meanwhile, the Red Devils chose to bring in Ralf Rangnick in charge on an interim basis until the end of the campaign, before appointing Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman is tasked with guiding the Red Devils back to the top of the Premier League after a disappointing season.
But according to Manchester Evening News, United opted against hiring the Italian due to Ronaldo. The hierarchy consulted the big players at Old Trafford when it came to their new boss, with Ronaldo then ‘blocking’ Conte.
That then saw Tottenham step in and appoint Conte as their new boss after Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked. The 52-year-old has since taken Spurs from ninth and into the top four, finishing above United in the meantime.
Conte has done a terrific job to spearhead Tottenham’s push back into the Champions League spots – something United could have done with when they decided to sack Solskjaer. However, they opted to bring in Rangnick but he struggled to bring back any kind of success to the club.
(
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)
Did Manchester United make a mistake by not appointing Antonio Conte? Let us know in the comments below!
The Austrian won just 11 of his 29 games in charge of the Red Devils – the fewest win percentage of any manager since before Sir Alex Ferguson’s 26-year tenure. United finished the season with their lowest-ever Premier League points tally, having accumulated just 58 from their 38 matches.
Mauricio Pochettino was also linked with the vacant United job but they chose to appoint Ten Hag instead. But it is safe to say the Dutchman has got a massive task on his hands to turn United’s fortunes around.
When speaking in his first press conference on Monday morning, Ten Hag said: First of all, we want to make the fans proud. Second, of course, we are in this moment, the current situation is obviously not that good.
“It’s a big challenge. I want to build and construct a team who are battling for each other, who are unified and who will get results. Also, we are playing in the Theatre of Dreams. We want to entertain. But in the end, the intention is to play fantastic football. If we can’t play fantastic football, we still have to win.”
Read More
Read More
