Ruud van Nistelrooy's potential departure from Manchester United is creating waves within the squad amid his influence at Old Trafford. The legendary Dutch striker took over as interim boss following Erik ten Hag's dismissal this week, with reports now abuzz that Sporting CP's coach Ruben Amorim is set to take the reins after United triggered his £8.4 million release clause.
Van Nistelrooy, 48, who only arrived back at United during the summer to serve as Ten Hag's assistant, has quickly endeared himself to the team, offering invaluable advice and nurturing the club's emerging talents. His contribution hasn't been lost on striker Rasmus Hojlund, who credited Van Nistelrooy for his guidance on the pitch after scoring a pivotal goal against Brentford earlier in October, saying: "Everybody's asking me this question. He's helping us every day, but he's also helping the defence and the midfield."
Hojlund praised Van Nistelrooy's dual role of coaching and player development, adding his personal experience: "He's a very good assistant coach, but obviously, he's a great striker. You're trying to learn everything about him and all these sort of things. I haven't had that long time to learn from him yet because I haven't been back for a little more than a month or so. But obviously, he's given me a lot of good advice."
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If van Nistelrooy does indeed make his exit, there's no doubt he'll be leaving behind a legacy as both an outstanding player and a mentor. His arrival in the summer sparked excitement among fans and players alike, with expectations for him to majorly influence United's attacking force.
However, defender Jonny Evans revealed in pre-season that the former goalscorer was contributing to the team's defence too by sharing knowledge on how to neutralize rival forwards. "It's always good to freshen up. Ruud coming back has been great, especially for myself," the Northern Irishman said.
"I grew up sort of idolising Ruud and the way he used to play. I got a little bit of chance when I was in the youth team, to see him play."
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Backup goalkeeper Tom Heaton also lauded Ruud in the summer, noting: "Me and Ruud spent a bit of time together [when Van Nistelrooy was a player at United]. I was always his preferred keeper for shooting practice. He's been absolutely brilliant since he joined, and his attention to detail is exceptional.
"You could be mistaken for thinking he's just a United legend coming in as a figurehead. But his meticulousness - and I've attended a few meetings where I've heard him speak - has been remarkable," Heaton added.
And its not only the team's current stars who are soaking up his expertise; the club's promising young prospects have also taken note. One such talent is Joe Hugill, who, despite spending a brief period with Van Nistelrooy before his loan move to Wigan in the summer, recognised the Dutchman's impact.
"We've been doing a few shooting drills and he's been giving me a few tips," he said in July. "It's massive having Ruud here, especially for people like myself, young and coming up, to have him in the building, even to ask questions, is massive."
The arrival of Amorim as manager is set to usher new faces onto the coaching staff as the 39-year-old embarks on his inaugural role beyond Portugal. But it's clear as day that if Van Nistelrooy leaves, he's surely be missed.
