Former Man Utd youth player turns down offer to return to club 27 years after leaving

A former Manchester United youth player has decline the opportunity to return to the club, a new report reveals.

United have been busy recruiting new staff to help usher the club into a different era under new owners INEOS who, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, purchased a stake in the club in February,

Former striker Rudd van Nistelrooy recently returned to the club as an assistant manager, aiming to help guide boss Erik ten Hag as he continues to face pressure surrounding his role at the club.

And a new report has revealed that a former youth player recently turned down the opportunity to return to the club for one specific reason.

According to MailOnline, Michael Appleton who spent two years playing for United at youth level, was offered the chance to come back to the club as the loans manager.

Appleton left United in 1997, having failed to make a senior appearances for the club after graduating from the academy and spending time on loan with AFC Wimbledon, Lincoln City and Grimsby Town.

However sources told the Mail that he decided not to take the new job with United as he wants to continue a career in coaching rather than moving into a role which focuses more on the administrative side of football.

The 48-year-old's latest job was managing Charlton Athletic but was sacked just four months after joining in January having previous managed Portsmouth, Preston, Blackpool, Blackburn, Oxford and Lincoln.

While Appleton was the preferred option for the job, United still plan to recruit for the role which predominantly oversees securing moves for the club's young players to go out and gain experience with other teams on loan.

Michael Appleton managed Charlton Athletic from September 2023 until January 2024. (Image: Getty)

The pursuit of Appleton demonstrates United's pursuit of former players in recent months with Tommy Rowe an example of an ex-youth player who has returned to the club as a player-coach in September following a successful pre-season trial with the under-21 side.

"The experienced midfielder will create various unique development opportunities for United’s Academy players by coaching from within training sessions and driving daily standards on and off the pitch," said the club after confirming they had signed the 35-year-old defender.