Ruud van Nistelrooy breaks silence on Man Utd exit as Ruben Amorim makes first Old Trafford visit

Ruud Van Nistelrooy has taken to social media to pay tribute to Manchester United after his departure from Old Trafford was confirmed earlier this week.

The former Red Devils striker became a firm favourite with United fans as he plundered his way to 150 goals in 219 games during a five-year at with the club during his playing career. After embarking on a managerial career with former club PSV Eindhoven and spending time as assistant manager of the Netherlands national team, Van Nistelrooy returned to Old Trafford during the summer as Erik ten Hag’s successor. He was then named as United’s interim manager in the aftermath of Ten Hag’s departure last month and guided the Red Devils to three wins in four games during a short stint in charge.

However, last weekend’s 3-0 home win against Leicester City brought down the curtain on Van Nistelrooy’s interim spell after it was confirmed he will not be retained on the club’s coaching staff as new head coach Ruben Amorim gets to work.

Former Netherlands international Van Nistelrooy posted on his X account: "To everyone at Manchester United Football Club, in particular the backroom staff, the players and the fans. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your incredible efforts and support. It has been a privilege and honour to represent the club as a player, coach and manager, and I will always cherish the memories we have shared together. Manchester United will always have a special place in my heart, and I hope there are many more glory days at Old Trafford very soon - not only because I want the club to do well, but because you all deserve it! All the best and take care, Ruud."

Meanwhile, new head coach Amorim has been pictured at Old Trafford for the first time as he prepares to get his reign underway with a visit to Ipswich Town on Sunday week. Following the recent departure of Erik ten Hag after he had led the Red Devils to two major trophies over the last two seasons, the Sporting CP head coach was the overwhelming first-choice to succeed the Dutchman and a deal was concluded late last month. Amorim signed off from life with the Portuguese giants in some style as his side romped to a 4-1 win against Manchester City in a Champions League fixture before coming from two goals down to beat league rivals Braga thanks to three goals in the last 12 minutes.

Amorim’s tenure officially got underway on Monday and has since been pictured at Old Trafford as he was shown around the stadium he will now call home. The new man was shown in the media room and posed for pitchside photos before being shown with Mason Mount and Kobbie Mainoo, Leny Yoro and academy product Toby Collyer earlier this week.  The new man in charge has already received a glowing appraisal from one key member of the United squad he has inherited from Ten Hag after Bruno Fernandes revealed he has taken heart from the way the Sporting players reacted to the departure of a coach that led them to the Primeira Liga title last season.

Fernandes told United’s website: “Obviously for me, what stands out as I said to you is the connection he has with the players. You see it at the end of the game when a manager is going from your club in the middle of the season and with all the things that they have still to win. And you see the way they say goodbye to him, the way they feel, they make him feel part of the team and how they treat him. So it shows that this is a great character and he's someone that gives his all to the players.

“He always goes to the press conference and always defends their players and always kept them under himself to give them the best opportunity to shine. He had a really youthful team [at Sporting] so they needed that and hopefully when he comes here he can do the same again with the youth. Us players with the most experience, we have to help him to get that and get the best out of every player at this club.”