Ralf Rangnick, Manchester United’s new interim manager, has his first great experience in England. But it could have landed in the country much earlier. He has had several offers to catch a ship in the past, according to the Daily Mirror. But he decided to reject them all until now, thanks to the fact that the ‘red devils’ have guaranteed him a position in management. The victims were Chelsea and Arsenal. And the ‘gunners’, by Mesut Ozil!
In 2018, when Arsene Wenger left office after 22 years, Arsenal knocked on Rangnick’s door. Meanwhile, he renewed Mesut Ozil’s contract for more than 400,000 euros a week, in what was the best contract in the club’s history. At that time, the German international had great status, he was in his sporting maturity at 29 years old and wanted to continue at the Emirates until 2021.
The economic operation was risky, but sportingly it seemed a success. In the mind of Rangnick, an ideologue when it comes to shaping templates, that deal couldn’t be closed without the approval of a coach behind. That is why he decided to reject Arsenal’s proposal: such a commitment would condition the entity too much in the medium term.
But there was something more to Rangnick’s pride and the value and significance he brings to his profession. It was not only the pact with Ozil, but was done without commenting with him when choosing him as his new coach. He wanted to return to the bench and finally did so in 18-19 with Leipzig, whom he previously served as a sports advisor.
The ‘no’ to Chelsea
Rangnick was tempted by Chelsea last January, when they fired Frank Lampard. In this case, the problem was the opposite. The ‘blues’ offered him the seat in the Stamford Bridge armchair, but only in the one on the lawn. The current United manager likes to make his mark on the clubs he passes through and wanted to fill a managerial position once his time as a coach was over. It was not in the offer, so his answer was negative.