Ten Hag already knows how to handle Ronaldo ahead of Man Utd link-up

Erik ten Hag won't order Cristiano Ronaldo around at Manchester United, according to former Dutch footballer Sjoerd Overgoor.

The current Ajax boss has verbally agreed to become the Red Devils new manager and is expected to take the reins at Old Trafford at the end of the season. It is understood the 52-year-old will sign a four-year deal with the Premier League giants and succeed current interim Ralf Rangnick in the summer.

The Dutchman will have his work cut out with United as he appears set to inherit a squad who have struggled this season and find themselves in real danger of missing out on Champions League football next term following a dismal 1-0 defeat to Everton at the weekend. There remain question marks over the futures of a number of United's players, including Ronaldo, but Overgoor believes his former manager will know exactly how to handle the Portuguese superstar.

Speaking to Sky Sports about Ten Hag – a manager he played under during his time at Go Ahead Eagles – Overgoor revealed that he believes his former coach will not be ordering Ronaldo about as he looks to appease the five-time Ballon d'Or winner. Overgoor declared: "I don't think he will be telling Cristiano Ronaldo what to do."

The 33-year-old, who retired last year to take up a coaching role at former club Twente, also admitted that Ten Hag possesses exceptional man-management skills, which will likely come in handy when managing multiple egos at Old Trafford. Overgoor said: "A lot of the time it is only about football, not about family or something else.

"Every day he wanted to talk about football and improve, improve, improve. But he knew what every player needed and that is a good thing to have as a coach."

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Overgoor admitted that he believes Ten Hag will be a successful appointment for United, but called for the Red Devils to have patience. He revealed: "If you have a board who do not have patience it could be done after a few months.

"But the board trusted him at Utrecht and at Ajax and you see what happens next. It was the same at Eagles. It was up and down. After that, it was up, up and up.

"At Ajax, they had the patience. I don't know if Manchester United has that patience if the results do not come in the first few months because there is so much more going on. If he is given the time he will do the job. He has shown everywhere that he is good enough."

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