Erik ten Hag agrees with Man Utd plan that Sheikh Jassim was very keen on

11 February 2024 , 14:24

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Erik ten Hag is more than happy for Manchester United icons to come back to the club (Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United FC)

Erik ten Hag has made it clear that former Manchester United players are more than welcome to come back to the club after hanging up their boots.

The Red Devils welcomed former striker Robin van Persie back to Carrington this week with the Dutchman observing training sessions as part of his attempts to gain a UEFA Pro coaching license. Van Persie, 40, spent three years at United after being signed by Sir Alex Ferguson back in 2012.

Van Persie is far from the only former United player who has been in and around Old Trafford in recent years - and Ten Hag has now laid out a formal invitation to any other club icons who may wish to visit their old stomping ground.

Speaking on Sunday, Ten Hag was asked about Van Persie's presence at training and said: "So, every player for Manchester United from the past is welcome, and we want to help them.

"We go to serve them and so for his Pro Licence and to learn, it's good to have him around here. I hope he has carried a lot of information which will help him in the future, but of course, also to pass his Pro Licence.

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"It's great to have such, say, icons of Manchester United around. And as I said, also others are very welcome. We want to help them. I think we have a lot of experience here and a lot of competencies. So then we can learn from each other. And so, we are happy to do this."

Ten Hag is far from the only figure associated with the club to welcome the idea of former players having involvement - and it was also appreciated by Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Join the debate! Who would you like to see return to Man Utd? Let us know here.

United welcomed former striker Robin van Persie back to the club this week (Getty Images)

The Qatari businessman spent months pursuing a takeover of the club after the Glazer family invited proposals back in November 2022 but was beaten to a deal by Ineos chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

It was outlined at the time that one of the ideas Sheikh Jassim was keen on implementing should he purchase United was bringing former club legends back on board, although it's unclear whether they would have been given official roles.

While Sheikh Jassim was in talks to buy Man United outright, Ratcliffe eventually struck a £1.25billion deal for a 25 per cent stake in his boyhood club.

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Dan Marsh