Manchester United are worried about losing their Head of Recruitment, Christopher Vivell, as Ralf Rangnick wants him at AC Milan.
Rangnick, who was Man Utd’s head coach for 29 matches during the 2021/22 campaign, is currently preparing for the World Cup as Austria’s manager.
Nevertheless, the 67-year-old is already planning his next career move, opening a dialogue with Milan, who have identified him as the favourite to replace Max Allegri.
Ralf Rangnick tells Milan to reunite him with Christopher Vivell
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, one Man Utd official has been dragged into the ongoing negotiations between Rangnick and Milan, as the German coach is determined to bring Vivell on board.
The former Man Utd boss has made it clear that he’s only willing to join the Rossoneri if provided with the right company.
Rangnick has thus asked the Serie A giants to bring in Johannes Spors as sporting director, and entrust the scouting department to Vivell.
Although they didn’t work together at Man Utd, Rangnick and Vivell go all the way back to 2010, when the latter was appointed as video analyst at Hoffenheim, while his older compatriot was the head coach of the Bundesliga side. They were then reunited at the Red Bull group in 2015, working together at Leipzig and Salzburg.
The Italian newspaper adds that Rangnick has confided to his entourage that he doesn’t intend to wait too long for Milan’s offer. So unless the Rossoneri give in to his requests in the next four days, he will walk away from the conversation, as he doesn’t want it to drag on until the World Cup.
Vivell’s role at Man Utd
In 2024, Vivell joined Man Utd as Head of Recruitment. He has been playing a key role in scouting talent and acquiring new players. He has been particularly credited with Benjamin Sesko’s signing last season.
The 39-year-old insisted on recruiting the Slovenian from Leipzig, even though Ruben Amorim wanted a Premier League-proven striker like Ollie Watkins.
According to Transfermarkt, Vivell’s contract with United is valid until June 2027, which gives the club a certain guarantee. However, it would be difficult to keep the club official at Carrington against his will.
While a reunion with his former mentor could be an appealing prospect, Vivell enjoys a prominent role at Man Utd and the backing of the hierarchy. Therefore, it could be unwise to leave MUFC while the club is seemingly on the rise, and join Milan, whose management has been in a state of turmoil and confusion over the past few years.
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