Ruud van Nistelrooy has taken charge of Manchester United on an interim basis (Picture: Getty)

Enzo Maresca says he is ‘happy’ for Manchester United’s newly appointed interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy and looking forward to catching up with his old ‘friend’ when Chelsea travel to Old Trafford this weekend.

United relieved Erik ten Hag of his duties after a dismal run of results at this early stage of the season and Van Nistelrooy has taken over the reins while the club consider their options.

The first major challenge for Van Nistelrooy in the role comes tomorrow night when the Red Devils take on Leicester City for a place in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

In the wake of Ten Hag’s dismissal, Ruben Amorim has emerged as the clear frontrunner to be appointed as Ten Hag’s permanent successor, with Sporting confirming United’s intention to pay the Portuguese’s ?10million (£8.3m) release clause in full this afternoon.
However, speaking after Sporting’s 3-0 win over Famalicao, Amorim insisted nothing was decided over his future and everything would become clear in due course.

Maresca refused to discuss the speculation surrounding Amorim while facing the media but opened up on the prospect of locking horns on the touchline with Van Nistelrooy, who managed PSV Eindhoven up until May of last year.

‘He’s a friend of mine. We played together. We spent time together in Malaga. We have still relations...