Italian coach nears Old Trafford deal

SAMPDORIA coach Stefano Rapetti is currently in England finalising details of his contract with United, according to sources close to the Italian.

M.E.N. Sport understands there are a ‘few details’ to iron out before Rapetti can complete his move to Old Trafford and it is ‘not a done deal’ as has been reported elsewhere.

As a result, with talks still ongoing, United have held off from making a formal announcement about the make-up of Jose Mourinho’s new-look backroom team following the departure of long-term assistant Rui Faria.

Rapetti worked alongside Mourinho in his final season at Inter in 2010 and it is understood that the United boss wants to make fairly safe appointments who are already familiar with his methods or have previously worked at the club, like Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna have.

The 46-year-old has only coached in Italy to date but has experience operating under a number of top-class coaches, including Rafael Benitez and Claudio Ranieri, and speaks both English and Spanish.

One of his former players told M.E.N. Sport that he is a ‘great guy’ as well as a ‘great professional’.

Rapetti was promoted to the role of fitness coach under Mourinho when he won the treble with Inter in 2010 after the Portuguese was impressed with the work he was doing with the club’s academy.