Antero Henrique linked with Manchester United technical director role

Of all the names of people and players linked with Manchester United, there is a name you might night recognize, Antero Henrique. Who is he, and why is he linked with a “move” to United?

According to several reports, Henrique is close to becoming United Technical Director — a role dealing with a longer-term vision encompassing all areas of the club as opposed to focusing solely on recruitment. In layman terms, if appointed Henrique would run the day to day operations of the club.

The task of signing new players would still fall to executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and Matt Judge, though, so Henrique would not fill the now mythical “Director of Football” position.

Henrique held a similar position at Paris Saint-Germain (called Sporting Director) until last summer, after a two-year stint in the position. Two years doesn’t sound link a long time to turn around a club, but Henrique did just that.

Hand-picked by PSG’s Qatari owners to essentially transform PSG, Henrique is credited with signing Kylian Mbappé from Monaco, Neymar from Barcelona, and Dani Alves from Juventus.

Before PSG, Henrique spent 26 years at Porto, starting at the administrative department until finally working his way up to the position of the club’s sporting director in 2005, and further advancing his career five years later when he was named the chief executive and vice president of the club.

Some of the moves he oversaw at Porto include: Anderson to United, Jose Bosingwa to Chelsea, Radamel Falcao to Atletico Madrid, and Pepe and Danilo to Real Madrid, among others.

According to the Independent, both sides are in “advanced” talks, but if a deal can’t be completed, then another named linked with this position is current Red Bull Head of Sport Ralf Rangnick.