Meet your noisy neighbour... Pep!
ERIK TEN HAG could become Pep Guardiola’s neighbour after telling Manchester United that he wants to live in the city centre when he takes over at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag has opted to shun the enclave of millionaires who populate the Golden Triangle of Alderley Edge, Prestbury and Wilmslow because he doesn’t want to shut himself away from the fans who have become so disgruntled at the direction United are taking.
One of the places he is looking at is the plush 16-storey
Deansgate CitySuites – home to Guardiola’s family, and other Manchester City stars like Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva.
The building is situated on the Salford side of the River Irwell, which is traditionally United territory.
But Guardiola (above) is so settled there he is thinking of extending his contract with City beyond a seventh season, with his current deal set to expire in the summer of 2023.
Ten Hag is known in
Holland to value his privacy. So United were surprised when he told them that he was planning to live right in the heart of Manchester.
The Dutchman struck up a good relationship with Guardiola when he was in charge of Bayern Munich’s reserve team during the Catalan’s tenure in Germany.
Sir Alex Ferguson, Louis van Gaal, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and current interim United boss Ralf Rangnick all based themselves in Cheshire.
David Moyes remained in his family home near Preston during his 10-month spell in charge and Jose Mourinho lived permanently in the Lowry Hotel in the centre of town.
Ten Hag is ready to live out of a suitcase too, but only until a suitable home is found in the locality.
He has signed a threeyear contract with United, although the deal includes the option of a 12-month extension.
The Ajax boss has been tasked with arresting a decline at Old Trafford that accelerated when Ferguson retired in 2013, after winning his 13th Premier League title.