I know Ruud van Nistelrooy is cut up - I have a warning for Ruben Amorim after axing my pal

Manchester United fans will start calling for the return of Ruud van Nistelrooy if Ruben Amorim gets off to a shaky start.

That’s according to Van Nistelrooy’s close friend and former colleague Andre Ooijer, who says the Dutchman was desperate to remain at Old Trafford. He led the team for four games in the wake of Erik ten Hag’s sacking, winning three and drawing the other against Chelsea.

However, Amorim decided not to keep on the former United striker, preferring instead to bring in his own trusted coaching team from Sporting CP. Former Netherlands international Ooijer reckons that decision could backfire on the Portuguese coach, especially if he doesn’t hit the ground running.

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“Ruud wanted to stay as assistant,” Ooijer, a coach under Van Nistelrooy at PSV Eindhoven, told the Mirror. “He would have said something if he wasn’t interested in working with Amorim.”

Ooijer said Van Nistelrooy had turned down other head coach roles because of his desire to return to United. The former Blackburn defender added: “Ruud has had the chance to be manager or head coach at other clubs.

"But he deliberately did not take those jobs because he wanted to work at the club he loves most. Don’t forget Ruud did really well at United, a draw against Chelsea and victories in the other three matches.

“You could tell the fans liked him so much. You only had to watch how they reacted to him after his last match. He did so well under difficult circumstances.

"He has stayed unbeaten as a manager. If Amorim does not get the right results in the first few games, the crowd could start calling again for Ruud.”

Van Nistelrooy, who was close to joining Burnley in the summer before United came calling, is now understood to be eyeing another job in the Premier League. Another former Netherlands team-mate reckons the 48-year-old is destined to return to Old Trafford as manager in the future.

Wesley Sneijder said: “If United are clever - and I am sure that this is what they are doing - they will get Ruud ready to take over in two or three years.”

Meanwhile, another ex-team-mate, Rafael van der Vaart, agrees. The former Tottenham midfielder added: “When Ten Hag was sacked, Ruud was thinking, ‘I must take this chance and if I do well, something can work out for me’.

“The club have decided to go a different way, but that does not spoil it all for him. Ruud’s moment will come. The job really suits him. Ruud is the king at Old Trafford. Everyone loves him because he is a legend. He absolutely loves the club and the club loves him.”