Rudi Garcia reveals two Man United interviews before Rangnick appointment and still eyes Premier League move

Rudi Garcia came within two interviews of becoming Manchester United manager in late 2021, the experienced French coach has revealed, and says he still harbours ambitions of working in the Premier League despite missing out on the role that eventually went to Ralf Rangnick.

Speaking to The Athletic, Garcia confirmed he met then-technical director Darren Fletcher and then-football director John Murtough after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked, progressing through two rounds of talks before United decided on a different direction. “Yes, I interviewed twice to work in this fantastic club, one of the best clubs in the world,” Garcia said. “It was an interim role and they asked me what I would do once it was over. I told them I would do so well that I would be staying in Manchester, but they gave the job to Ralf.”

Garcia’s profile was considerable at the time. He had guided Lyon to the semi-finals of the 2019-20 Champions League, knocking out Manchester City along the way, before stepping down after a fourth-place Ligue 1 finish the following season. His CV also includes spells at Roma, Marseille, and Napoli, clubs he credits with shaping his appetite for high-pressure environments. “That brings pressure and can be complicated but it’s also wonderful when you win,” he said.

After the United process concluded, Garcia moved to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where he oversaw Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut in the Saudi Pro League — a distinction that brought its own global attention. Subsequent stints at Napoli, where he was dismissed after four months in a dispute over decision-making authority rather than results, and with the Belgium national team followed.

Garcia had previously addressed the United interviews in a 2022 conversation with Le Figaro, where he also touched on the language barrier. Fletcher, he recalled, joked that Garcia’s English was not yet strong enough to handle a Scottish accent — a moment Garcia described warmly. “I find it respectful to speak the language in the country where you work,” he said, adding that he had pushed his players at Marseille and Lyon to take French lessons for the same reason.

Now 62 and currently without a club, Garcia insists the Premier League chapter is not closed. His near-miss at Old Trafford appears to have reinforced rather than dampened that ambition.