Manchester United’s managerial search for an interim coach a year ago looks set to have an impact on the future of their former superstar striker Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo is in negotiations to join Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr who are coached by Rudi Garcia; the Frenchman held multiple meetings with United a year ago after the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer led to club chiefs seeking an interim replacement for the remainder of the campaign.
Garcia, 58, was previously head coach at Lyon where he guided the French club to the Champions League semi-finals in 2020 in a run that included their famous elimination of Manchester City. The hugely experienced boss also had lengthy stints at the helm of Lille, Roma and Marseille.
Garcia was one of a number of highly-rated coaches linked to the Old Trafford hotseat last November, with ex Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde – now at Athletic Club Bilbao – also in the running. The club ultimately appointed Ralf Rangnick for the remainder of the campaign.
However, United chiefs were impressed by Garcia’s CV and interview – so much so that he was invited back to hold a follow-up discussion with John Murtough and Darren Fletcher, who were tasked with overseeing the appointment process.
Garcia is now back in management at Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, who are attempting to sign Ronaldo. When discussing the possibility of the Portuguese superstar joining the club, Garcia referenced his meetings with United a year ago.
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Reminiscing about his links to United in an interview with Diario AS when discussing the possibility of coaching Ronaldo, Garcia drew a link between the two: “I think that any coach would be delighted to train a great star like Cristiano and already in November 2021 I was very close to going to United.
“They chose Ralf Rangnick, but I met twice with John Murtough and Darren Fletcher [United's director of football and technical director respectively].
“I came very close to coaching this club and was very motivated to go, who wouldn't be motivated to coach United? Any coach. United's simple interest has allowed me to be sure of my ambitions in the future. I have always thought that the great players are the easiest to manage because they are very intelligent, I verified this with Francesco Totti at Roma.”
Ronaldo remains a free agent after ending his relationship with Manchester United by mutual consent last month and after Portugal’s World Cup elimination, he will now be prioritising joining a new club ahead of the January transfer window opening in less than three weeks.
