close
close

Ruud van Nistelrooy deletes photo of “black face” hours after appointment to Manchester United | football

Ruud van Nistelrooy deletes photo of “black face” hours after appointment to Manchester United | football

Ruud van Nistelrooy has deleted an old post in which he was wearing blackface at a festival in Spain in 2013. (Image credit: Getty Images/Europa Press)

Ruud van Nistelrooy deleted a historic photo of him making a “black face” just hours after his appointment was confirmed Manchester UnitedTemporary manager.

Eric ten Haag‘s United manager’s reign ended on Monday after a controversial defeat against West Ham.

Van Nistelrooy returned to his former club in the summer with a view to providing additional support to his compatriot, who has been equipped with a revamped backroom team after receiving what ultimately turned out to be a stay of execution.

It is not known how many games the 48-year-old football player will play United are already in talks to sign Ruben Amorim from Sporting Lisbonbut Van Nistelrooy was immediately put in the background and drawn into the controversy.

A photo from 2013 of Van Nistelrooy attending the Three Kings Parade in Marbella has resurfaced on social media before he deleted his post.

Black facepractice put on makeup to look blackwas associated with a minstrel show in USA from the 1830s to the mid-20th century, and is considered by many to be highly offensive in modern society.

Meanwhile, Van Nistelrooy will face the media on Tuesday ahead of tomorrow’s Carabao Cup tie against Leicester and his former team-mate Gary Neville has urged him to change tactics.

Erik ten Hag was sacked by Manchester United after defeat by West Ham (Image: Getty)
Ruud van Nistelrooy will take over as interim manager of Manchester United (Photo: Getty)

Neville believes United could benefit from fielding a three-man defense to give the squad more strength.

Asked if Van Nistelrooy could immediately instill a new identity in the team following Ten Haeg’s departure, Neville told Sky Sports: “I mean, it’s going to be almost impossible, isn’t it, for him to do that in the next few days.

“What can he do? He can build the team differently, I mean it could happen, he could change the team a little bit.

“Ruud van Nistelrooy will do his best, I thought for a few months, looking at United’s players, they could be better suited to a three at the back.

Simply due to the lack of a pair of centre-backs, and the full-backs, to be honest, look better going forward than in defence.

“So maybe it could happen, maybe it could give them a bit more comfort because it would give them an extra body at the back but also get the players into a system where they would have more support.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a few months, but if Ruud is doing it that way and if it’s the right way, I’m not sure.

“At the end of the day, it’s at this point in time that we’ll see, against Leicester on Wednesday night, whether he believed in what Eric was doing, because he would have chosen another team if he did.”

MORE: Paul Scholes questions Ruben Amorim and names two managers Manchester United should consider

MORE: Mikel Merino dismisses one ‘excuse’ for Arsenal losing Premier League title race

MORE: Former Liverpool star dismisses Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes