Erik ten Hag ANNOUNCED as Man Utd manager, Dutchman signs three-year deal, Ronaldo RETURNS – latest

ERIK TEN HAG has been ANNOUNCED as Manchester United manager.

The Dutchman has signed a three-year deal at Old Trafford with the option of a further year.

The 52-year-old said: “It is a great honour to be appointed manager of Manchester United and I am hugely excited by the challenge ahead.

"I know the history of this great club and the passion of the fans, and I am absolutely determined to develop a team capable of delivering the success they deserve."

And Cristiano Ronaldo was spotted leaving Carrington in the back of a Mercedes this afternoon.

Stay up to date with all the latest from Old Trafford in our live blog…

  • Alex Cole

    Breaking – United announce Ten Hag appointment

    Erik Ten Hag, 52, has been officially confirmed as the new manager of Manchester United.

    A statement from the club reads: "Manchester United is delighted to announce the appointment of Erik ten Hag as Men’s First Team Manager, subject to work visa requirements, from the end of this season until June 2025, with the option to extend for a further year."

  • Alex Cole

    United next five games

    There's a tough run for the Red Devils with top four chasers Arsenal and Chelsea back-to-back.

    Some winnable games at the start of May… but not the way United are performing at the moment.

  • Alex Cole

    United supporters 'deserve much more', says Bruno Fernandes

    Midfield star Bruno Fernandes has apologised to Old Trafford fans after the 4-0 defeat to Liverpool on Tuesday night.

    He told Sky Sports: “It’s a bad result once again.

    "Not much that I can say.

    "Obviously, we apologise to the fans.

    "It will never be enough but obviously it is what we can do now.

    “They don’t deserve that we play in this way, they deserve much more from us.

    "The way they support us until the end, the way they stay even after the whistle to applaud us, they deserve much more from us."

    They deserve much more from us.

    Bruno FernandesSky Sports

  • Alex Cole

    While united are desperate to announce Erik ten Hag as new boss

    Manchester United are desperate to announce Erik ten Hag as their new boss to head off a huge fans protest at their next home game, writes NEIL CUSTIS.

    There was a protest at Old Trafford against the Glazer ownership ahead of Saturday’s 3-2 victory over Norwich.

    Now calls have gone out on social media for an even bigger one ahead of their penultimate home game in the Premier League a week today against Chelsea.

    United’s 4-0 hammering at Liverpool on Tuesday triggered a fresh outpouring of anger from fans and pundits at the state of the club.

    They now sit sixth in the Premier League with their hopes of a top four spot and qualification for the Champions League dwindling.

    Yesterday chief scout Jim Lawlor and head of global scouting Marcel Bout became the first victims of United’s rebuild.

    Lawlor left after 16 years with the club while Bout had been at Old Trafford since 2014.

    The club’s recruitment has been heavily criticised over the last nine years since Sir Alex Ferguson retired with a £1billion outlay failing to deliver one serious title challenge.

    They are now without a trophy for a fifth consecutive season.

  • Alex Cole

    Ajax nervous about Ten Hag announcement

    Ajax are nervous about an announcement of Erik ten Hag as new Manchester United boss, writes NEIL CUSTIS.

    Ten Hag is the No1 choice and it is understood United players have been told he has got the job.

    But confirmation has been delayed with Ajax still in a battle for the Dutch league title.

    Ajax lead PSV Eindhoven by four points with five games to go. They lost the Dutch Cup final to the same rivals last Sunday.

    The Amsterdam giants are nervous that an announcement about Ten Hag – coupled with a title run-in collapse – would infuriate their fans.

    United are respectful of their wishes but would dearly like to end speculation about the future at the club and convince fans it is in the right hands with Ten Hag.

  • Alex Cole

    Parker on Man Utd pressure

    Parker says that players may not want to complete mega-money moves to the club because of the intense pressure.

    He explained: "You’re gonna buy a bunch of players, and to convince all of them together that there are good players around them.

    "Because if you go out and buy one great player, he’s not going to come to Manchester United because he knows it’s going to be too much pressure put on him.

    “So, United is about to try to get quality players to come to them, because they know if they go there, expectations are going to be too much.

    "As much as they want to play for Manchester United, and put themselves in that position, there’s only so much you want to put on yourself.

    "Because you don’t really want the Harry Maguire treatment, do you?”

    Plenty of big names have been linked with joining United this summer – including Christopher Nkunku, Pau Torres, Darwin Nunez and Antony.

    While Erik ten Hag is set to take over in the dugout.

  • Alex Cole

    Maguire feeling the wrath of Old Trafford

    Manchester United will struggle to seal top transfers this summer – because of the treatment Harry Maguire has had.

    That is the opinion of former Red Devils defender Paul Parker, writes JOSHUA JONES.

    Maguire has been under constant scrutiny since his world-record £85million transfer from Leicester to Old Trafford in 2019 – and was even booed representing England.

    He defended his performances ahead of the 4-0 Liverpool thumping this week.

    But was then on the end of further criticism for his questionable defending at Anfield, the latest poor display from the United captain.

    And Parker reckons players may not want to complete mega-money moves to the club because of the intense pressure.

  • Joshua Mbu

    Good morning Man United fans

    Erik ten Hag is set to be a busy man when he is finally confirmed as the next Manchester United manager.

    While plenty of summer signings are guaranteed, up to TWELVE players could reportedly leave the club in order to fund new moves.

    An entire squad overhaul is expected, with Tuesday night’s 4-0 defeat against Liverpool once again highlighting the need for change.

    Ten Hag’s Manchester United rebuild will begin by trimming the squad of up to a dozen players, according to the Mirror.

    First in line at the departure gate are out of contract stars Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Edinson Cavani, Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata and Lee Grant.

    But at least six other players are also in for the chop.

    But Marco Van Basten reckons Ten Hag may be having doubts about taking over at Man United after they lost to Liverpool.

    The Dutch legend told Ziggo Sport: “You have to start wondering if Manchester United might have doubts about Erik ten Hag or should Erik ten Hag have doubts about Manchester United?

    “I think this is sad to see for such a big club.”

    Meanwhile, Paul Scholes predicts United’s misery may continue against Chelsea and Arsenal.

    The Red Devils face the London clubs in their next round of Prem games, and Scholses isn’t holding his breath for a good outcome from the consecutive clashes.

    Scholes lamented: ““They (Man United) look worse than a mid-table team.

    “You just can’t see that on that performance. We are going down near eighth.

    “Arsenal aren’t a great team, then there is Chelsea. Those are two games they are going to lose.”

    However, United ace Jesse Lingard insists the Red Devils will return to winning ways against the Gunners.

    He said: “We’ll go there with the mindset of winning, staying on the front foot, being intense, doing the basics and having that energy to go and win the game.

    “We need to work hard first before you can start playing, so win the individual battles and then we’ll win the game hopefully.”

    But United have a tough task on their hands after Arsenal trounced Chelsea 4-2 on Wednesday night.

    And finally, a win over Arsenal on the weekend will improve United’s hopes of signing Antonio Rudiger from Chelsea.

    Rudiger wants to play in the Champions League next season and the Red Devils’ hopes of clinching a top four spot may depend on how they perform against the Gunners.

    That is according to Manchester Evening News, who claim Rudiger is looking for a move to a team that have a place in Europe’s elite competition next term.

  • Justin Lawrence

    Prem clubs Champions League worry

    Prem clubs fear the proposed changes to the Champions League could adversely impact top-flight TV deals.

    Uefa look set to confirm the 36-team competition will award two “coefficient places”, rewarding sides who missed out domestically but have the best Euro record over the previous five years.

    Crystal Palace supremo Steve Parish called it “Super League by the back door”.

    And his worries are shared, with clubs arguing the new system will amplify the current financial and sporting dominance of the Big Six — and make it harder for other clubs to catch up.

    If the top-four race loses its importance, the extra fear is that the broadcasters will decide the loss of the “jeopardy” element no longer justifies huge broadcast deals. This could mean a decline in income for all 20 clubs.

  • Justin Lawrence

    Man United positives

    Man United legend Paul Parker reckons Jadon Sancho and Hannibal Mejbri were the only positives for the Red Devils in their loss to Liverpool.

    Parker told Betting Expert: "I would say when (Jadon) Sancho came on and also that the lad named Hannibal Mejbri (as the positives from the game).

    ‘When he (Hannibal Mejbri) came on, he chased the ball around and got into a few fights, and he’s upset a few Liverpool players. It wasn’t so much about football as it was taking on a young lad to show appetite. Which is quite embarrassing really.

    ‘I think he somehow figured out how big the game was and he took it upon himself to work hard. It wasn’t the case of getting picked. He wanted to work hard and make a point.

  • Justin Lawrence

    Poo United

    Man United are really having a stinker right now.

    The one-time giants of English football have been trolled by a cheeky Manchester City fan in an inventive way outside The Etihad.

    City faced Brighton on Wednesday evening looking to jump back above Liverpool to the top of the Premier League.

    But one creative City fan had other things on his mind as he made his way to the Etihad Stadium.

    The supporter in question spotted horse poo on the ground – likely from a police horse – and attached a card bearing a rather provocative message.

    Labelling the poo in question, the fan wrote: "If found, return to Old Trafford!"

  • Justin Lawrence

    Lingard's Arsenal vow

    Jesse Lingard has vowed that Man United will bounce back with a win against Arsenal after they lost to Liverpool.

    He said: "We’ll go there with the mindset of winning, staying on the front foot, being intense, doing the basics and having that energy to go and win the game.

    “We need to work hard first before you can start playing, so win the individual battles and then we’ll win the game hopefully.”

  • Justin Lawrence

    How United can sign Rudiger

    Man United's best chance of signing Chelsea star Antonio Rudiger would be if they qualified for next season's Champions League.

    That is according to Manchester Evening News, who claim Rudiger is looking for a move to a team that have a place in Europe's elite competition next term.

    United have reportedly started exploratory talks with the centre-back but there is little expectation he will join them.

    The Red Devils are sixth in the Premier League table with only three points separating them from fourth-placed Tottenham.

    But the Manchester giants' inconsistent campaign raises doubts as to whether they can finish in the top four and seal Champions League football.

  • Justin Lawrence

    Ten Hag doubts

    Marco Van Basten reckons Erik ten Hag may be having doubts about taking over at Man United after they lost to Liverpool.

    The Dutch legend told Ziggo Sport: “You have to start wondering if Manchester United might have doubts about Erik ten Hag or should Erik ten Hag have doubts about Manchester United?

    "I think this is sad to see for such a big club.”

  • Justin Lawrence

    Man United promise fan education

    Man United have promised to educate their supporters on the Hillsborough disaster after fans could be heard taunting the tragedy.

    A statement read: "Manchester United stands in solidarity with Liverpool FC and its fans in remembering the victims of the Hillsborough disaster," a club statement read.

    “Offensive chants about the tragedy are completely unacceptable and we will work with our supporters’ groups to educate fans on the issue.”

  • Justin Lawrence

    Man United chase Lazio star

    Man United have identified Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic as a potential replacement for Paul Pogba, reports suggest.

    That is according to Calcio Mercato, who claim United have a "strong and confirmed" interest in Milinkovic-Savic ahead of the summer transfer window.

    However, the Red Devils are facing a bidding war over the midfielder's signature as Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus are also keeping tabs.

  • Justin Lawrence

    Man United struggle predicted

    Man Utd will struggle to seal top transfers this summer – because of the treatment Harry Maguire has had.

    That is the opinion of former Red Devils defender Paul Parker.

    Maguire has been under constant scrutiny since his world-record £85million transfer from Leicester to Old Trafford in 2019 – and was even booed representing England.

    He defended his performances ahead of the 4-0 Liverpool thumping this week.

    But was then on the end of further criticism for his questionable defending at Anfield, the latest poor display from the United captain.

    And Parker reckons players may not want to complete mega-money moves to the club because of the intense pressure.

  • Justin Lawrence

    Scholes makes prediction

    Arsenal and Chelsea will heap more misery on Man United when the Red Devils collide with the North London teams consecutively in the Prem.

    That’s the opinion of ex-United star Paul Scholes who made the bleak prediction after United lost to Liverpool.

    Scholes said: “They (Man United) look worse than a mid-table team.

    You just can’t see that on that performance. We are going down near eighth.

    “Arsenal aren’t a great team, then there is Chelsea. Those are two games they are going to lose.”

  • Justin Lawrence

    Ten Hag plans clear out

    Erik ten Hag is set to be a busy man when he is finally confirmed as the next Manchester United manager.

    While plenty of summer signings are guaranteed, up to TWELVE players could reportedly leave the club in order to fund new moves.

    An entire squad overhaul is expected, with Tuesday night's 4-0 defeat against Liverpool once again highlighting the need for change.

    Ten Hag's Manchester United rebuild will begin by trimming the squad of up to a dozen players, according to the Mirror.

    First in line at the departure gate are out of contract stars Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Edinson Cavani, Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata and Lee Grant.

    But at least six other players are also in for the chop.

  • Justin Lawrence

    Mane breaks Giggs' record

    Sadio Mane broke Manchester United's fans' hearts when he scored in Liverpool's 4-0 rout against the Red Devils on Tuesday night.

    And now Mane's heaped even more misery on United's faithful by matching club icon Ryan Giggs' goalscoring record in 374 games less than the Welshman, an Opta analyst tweeted.

    Giggs ran riot for United throughout his career and the former winger snagged 109 goals in 632 games for the Red Devils in the Prem.

    But Giggs' coveted record was smashed by Mane who has now matched the former United winger's feat in just 258 games for Liverpool in the Prem.

    Mane slotted home Liverpool's third goal of the night against Gigg's old club just after he setup up team-mate Mo Salah with a sublime pass to score the Reds' second strike.

  • Emillia Hawkins

    Phil the gap

    Tottenham are set to compete with Man Utd to sign Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips, according to the Telegraph.

    Earlier this month, the Red Devils reportedly put the 26-year-old at the top of a Three Lions summer shortlist.

    Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham are also being monitored.

    Credit: Getty
  • Emillia Hawkins

    Reds clash

    Jamie Carragher trolled Gary Neville on Twitter with a hilarious video following Liverpool's 4-0 win over Man Utd.

    The clip began with with reference to a comment that Neville previously made about Thiago, where he said: "Bayern Munich never let anybody go who's half decent."

    But, the Man Utd legend quickly responded by saying that he had "one good game against a pub team!"

  • Emillia Hawkins

    Tor-n apart

    Man Utd have reportedly reignited their interest in Pau Torres as part of a massive squad overhaul this summer.

    The Red Devils wanted to sign the 25-year-old defender from Villarreal last summer but opted to recruit Raphael Varane instead.

    According to Manchester Evening News, the Red Devils are willing to offload Eric Bailly and Phil Jones in order to facilitate Torres' transfer.

    However, Jones and Bailly are unlikely to be the only casualties at Old Trafford this summer as interim boss Ralf Rangnick revealed TEN players could exit the club when Erik ten Hag takes over.

    Credit: Getty
  • Emillia Hawkins

    Ferd up

    Rio Ferdinand tore into Ralf Rangnick's flops following the humbling 4-0 defeat to Liverpool on Tuesday night.

    The former defender raged at the current culture that has infiltrated the club in recent years.

    Speaking on his Vibe with Five YouTube channel, Ferdinand said: "There needs to be fear, man.

    "There needs to be 'Oof if I step out of line, if I go to a nightclub on the wrong day I'm gonna get butchered' – not only by one of the senior players but also by one of the coaches, because they have got their ear to the ground and people will tell them. 

    "That's how it needs to be run – you go out in town at the wrong time, you need to be checked."

  • Emillia Hawkins

    Ferdinand slams Man Utd

    Man Utd legend Rio Ferdinand has slammed his former club for their performance against Liverpool on Tuesday.

    When speaking on FIVE, he said: "The whole team was a shambles.

    "Defensively, every goal you can pick out and go 'what was he doing'. Every single one of those players, you think oh my god where are you.

    "No awareness, no awareness of runners or players.

    "The two full-backs, [Aaron] Wan-Bissaka and [Diogo] Dalot, not following their men and [Harry] Maguire in no man's land. Not tight to the striker, not covering the run and in the middle of nowhere. People will say you shouldn't pick out.

    "You can't hide from the fact that it was an embarrassment yesterday."

    Credit: Getty

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