Manchester United have talked to former Barcelona head coach Ernesto Valverde about becoming interim manager, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The 57-year-old has spoken to football director John Murtough about the job but Spaniard is just one of five possible candidates to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on a short-term basis:
Manchester United board had a direct contact with former Barça manager Ernesto Valverde today, as per @JamieJackson___ 🔴 #MUFC
No decision made yet – he’s one of the five candidates in the list in case Mauricio Pochettino won’t be allowed to leave Paris Saint-Germain.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 23, 2021
Supporters on Twitter had a mixed reaction to the news that Valverde is in contention to take the hot seat at Old Trafford:
This club ain't serious
— J. (@CertifiedFreakJ) November 23, 2021
Very very good coach. Sign him up.
— TSK (@thesoccerkit) November 23, 2021
No god no
— Marshall Altham (@MarshallAltham7) November 23, 2021
If it means we get Ten Hag then I wouldn’t be against it
— ً (@adeyemmii) November 23, 2021
— Guyeg (@Guyeg_utd) November 23, 2021
Yes very gd coach
— রুদ্রনীল গোস্বামী (Rudranil Goswami) 🇮🇳 (@UnitedAnkit) November 23, 2021
What a joke! We need a Manager, a proper established manager by the weekend or at most until Monday.
— Mayuresh sawant (@mayuresh169) November 23, 2021
Yeah his not a bad coach as people make him seem
— Tinaye Nkosi (@NkosiTinaye) November 23, 2021
It is believed that the Red Devils may abandon their plans to appoint an interim head coach if one of their primary targets becomes available.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Mauricio Pochettino and Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers are thought to be among the contenders, while both Ajax’s Erik ten Hag and Spain manager Luis Enrique have also been linked.
For the time being, though, United are pressing ahead in their search for a coach who can take the reins until the end of the season.