Ruud van Nistelrooy keen to remain at Manchester United ahead of ...

Ruud Van Nistelrooy says he wants to return to being assistant manager at Manchester United once Ruben Amorim is appointed.

United and Sporting have agreed an €11million (£9.2m, $11.9m) deal to bring Amorim to Old Trafford for November’s international break, with Van Nistelrooy taking charge in the meantime.

But Van Nistelrooy does not want to leave United when Amorim joins, and is hopeful of continuing on following talks with the Portuguese.

“I decided to come back here for a very important reason,” said Van Nistelrooy. “I came as an assistant to help the club forward and I’m still motivated to do so in any capacity.

“I go back to my assistant contract that I have here for this season and next, I’m very motivated to stay here and help the club forward, that’s my absolute goal.

“We will see but it’s a contract situation I’m in, and my desire to help the club forward. I can speak about my side of the story and when a new manager is signing and conversations take place we have to see how things develop.”

Van Nistelrooy guided United to a 5-2 Carabao Cup win over Leicester in his first match as interim manager, and he will pick the team for the Premier League visit of Chelsea on Sunday, then the games against PAOK in the Europa League and Leicester in the Premier League, too.

Before his debut, Van Nistelrooy revealed he spoke to Sir Alex Ferguson, explaining: “Yes, I spoke to him we spoke shortly about my situation, the team and most of all he wished me luck before the game.”

The Dutchman added he also spoke to Erik ten Hag this week. “I’ve seen him Monday here and spoke to him yesterday before the game,” he said.

“I said in the first conversation we had for me to come back to the club with him I really felt that he cared, loved the club and wanted to bring this club forward and that’s why we connected. It hurt he had to leave but also proud of the achievements with the club.”

(Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

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Laurie Whitwell worked for the Daily Mail from 2010, covering midlands football for the last five years, including Leicester’s remarkable Premier League triumph. Whitwell was nominated for sports scoop of the year at the 2019 SJAs for breaking Wayne Rooney’s move to DC United. He will be reporting on Manchester United for The Athletic. Follow Laurie on Twitter @lauriewhitwell