Robin van Persie had two reasons for rejecting chance to rejoin Man Utd as Erik ten Hag’s assistant

Robin van Persie has rejected the opportunity to rejoin Manchester United as a member of Erik ten Hag’s coaching staff.

The Premier League giants are on the verge of confirming the 52-year-old as their new manager, having opted for the current Ajax boss and cooled their interest in Mauricio Pochettino.

An official announcement is expected imminently, but Ten Hag has already begun to consider the composition of his backroom team and wants full control over who he is allowed to hire and relinquish.

According to  ESPN via Soccer News, talks with Van Persie were held recently but the former United striker has turned down the chance to work with Ten Hag and will remain with Feyenoord.

Van Persie, whose goals fired United to their last Premier League title nine years ago, is said to be contented with his current role, while he does not want to leave Feyenoord, with his teenage son Shaqueel currently excelling in the club’s youth academy.

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Ten Hag ,meanwhile has already identified the conditioning of Manchester United’s players as an area of concern and wants to bring Ajax’s fitness coach, Mitchell van der Gaag, with him.

Jaap Stam has also been linked with a role back at his former club, while Steve McClaren – who coached at the club under Sir Alex Ferguson – has also emerged as a shock contender to be part of the new-look backroom team.

The future of interim boss, Ralf Rangnick, meanwhile, remains uncertain with the German unsure as to whether he will now take up the consultancy role he was pencilled in to fill after relinquishing his first team duties.

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