Speaking exclusively with BoyleSports , former Manchester United cult hero Quinton Fortune has revealed that he almost joined Roy Keane at Celtic.
Fortune discusses Manchester United's adaptation to “Modern Football” and the challenge Ruben Amorim has to replicate the past success under Sir Alex Ferguson and argues that winning can be the only measure of success at United.
Celtic Opportunity
When Roy Keane was at Celtic, there was an opportunity for me to go there under Gordon Strachan. I had a medical, but things didn’t go to plan. I wanted to carry on playing with Keane, and it would’ve been an honour to do that at a club like Celtic, given their history.
Unfortunately, it didn’t happen, I would’ve loved to play for a club like that and with a player like him again.”
Amorim’s Striker Dilemma
It’s refreshing to see a striker like Alexander Sorloth at Atletico, Diego Simeone plays football that suits him, and it benefits him. He scored four goals in a game, and the goals were top-class. He is an amazing forward.
Whether he’d fit in at Manchester United is another question; it depends on what Ruben Amorim wants to do. He has a great relationship with Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting, so that is the move I hope comes off.
Gyokeres To Old Trafford?
Can Manchester United sign Viktor Gyokeres if they are not in the Champions League? I hope so. It still feels weird to say that they are not confirmed to be in it.
It’s still a big club, and Ruben Amorim has that connection to the play, which helps; he would definitely be a big asset for the team in the right system. You also need players who understand the culture and have the right characteristics because the expectation isn’t easy. Not many players can deal with that.
“No Chance” Sane Signs For United
Could Leroy Sane end up at Old Trafford? No chance, he was at Manchester City, and it wouldn’t go down well.
One player United should look at is Jamal Musiala, he is some player. Him and Michael Olise.
Leaving Old Trafford
It's a tough one because we've been so fortunate to play at an amazing stadium in Old Trafford. But you have to change with the times, and Sir Alex was very good at that.
For years, we've been speaking about having 76,000 at Old Trafford, for years we were saying there's still people waiting outside who want to buy tickets so that the stadium should be 90,000.
When you look at the stadiums around the world, everything is changing. Barcelona are renovating, there is a new Santiago Bernabeu, it's unbelievable. United have always been the front runner in terms of taking things to another level, and although it’ll be tough to leave, the new plans look unbelievable.”
Club World Cup
Of course, it’s a shame not to have Manchester United at the Club World Cup, you want all the big teams there. If you look at the big teams in Real Madrid and Barcelona, even in the Champions League, it feels strange not to have Manchester United there.
It’s been tough, but United have to earn the night. Hopefully, they get into the Champions League by winning the Europa League and by the next Club World Cup, they will be there.
Jim Radcliffe “Must” Win
The only way Sir Jim Ratcliffe can win over Manchester United fans is by winning. There's no other way. It all comes down to winning. We were so fortunate to have Sir Alex Ferguson for so many seasons at Old Trafford, the fans want to see that success again.
It's so confusing sometimes that kids don’t know how successful Manchester United used to be, even my kids don’t know.
Amorim “Needs To Create A Team”
The only similarity is that Sir Alex struggled when he first got to Manchester United, but there was faith in him; maybe it will be the same with Ruben Amorim.
The club were patient back then, and it needs to be the same now. It’s a tough time, but Amorim needs to create a team he wants like he did at Sporting, he needs to get a trophy under his belt, and hopefully, that takes things to the next level.
Ruud Was A “Machine”
First of all, Ruud van Nistelrooy as a player was an absolute machine, and I'm sure he's taken that same mentality as a manager.
When I spoke to a few players, like Darren Fletcher, he said Ruud did a wonderful job at Manchester United. The players connected with him, the way he spoke, the way he was with the staff. The results spoke for themselves.
At Leicester, he took the opportunity, and I'm sure he'll learn from it and come back stronger. That was Ruud’s mentality anyway. He is a great guy, and I was very fortunate to play with him, and I wish him all the best in his career as a manager. Rest assured, Ruud will come back.
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