Ex-Man Utd manager admits Liverpool star is his BEST-EVER signing

The position of Manchester United manager has been a poisoned chalice for the past decade, with coach after coach failing to regain the glory sustained by Sir Alex Ferguson.

The likes of David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag have come and gone without managing to win significant prizes for the Old Trafford club.

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Following the dismissal of Ten Hag, one-time Liverpool target Ruben Amorim is preparing to take control as the Red Devils move on from interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The Liverpool - Red Bull connection

Another man who had the role was Ralf Rangnick, who was brought in to replace Solskjaer after the Norwegian was sacked during the 2021/22 season. Now coaching Austria, Rangnick was brought to United following his success with the Red Bull group.

During his time as a coach, sporting director and head of sport and development at the energy drink giant, Red Bull gained a strong reputation for its transfer strategies. With Rangnick inside the club, it managed to trade well, earning record sums on players sold, including plenty to Liverpool.

Ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp takes up his position as Global Head of Soccer for Red Bull in January.

Rangnick hails Konate

One such player to emerge from the Red Bull stable was Ibrahima Konate, signed by RB Leipzig on a free transfer from Sochaux in 2017. Having established himself as a Bundesliga regular, he made the move to Liverpool in 2021 where he is now starring as one of the best centre backs in the world.

On a recent episode of Canal Football Club, Rangnick reconnected with Konate, praising his game and his upbringing and reminding the France international that he was the BEST player he ever signed during his club managerial career at Red Bull.

Konate 'without doubt' the best

“I remember very well the day our scouting department in Leipzig showed clips from your Sochaux days,” the German said via a video link. “I instantly fell in love with your game.

“I saw straightaway you were an amazing person and player with a top-class upbringing. All of the latter proved true.

“You are without doubt the best signing, or one of the best signings, we did at Leipzig in the last 12 years.”

Rangnick won only 11 of his 29 games in charge of Man Utd, finishing the season in sixth place on 58 points. That run included a humiliating loss to Liverpool, 4-0, at Anfield in April 2022.

“It is embarrassing, it is disappointing, maybe even humiliating. We have to accept they are six years ahead of us now,” Rangnick said at the time.

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