United bolster backroom staff with Adidas executive
Matt Hargreaves to replace United’s director of football negotiations
By Mike McGrath
Manchester United have appointed Adidas executive Matt Hargreaves to one of their most key positions in player recruitment for Erik ten Hag, with the new arrival at Old Trafford negotiating deals for the club.
Hargreaves replaces Matt Judge, who worked as United’s director of football negotiations beside Ed Woodward before leaving United last year. It is understood that Hargreaves has accepted terms with United and will start before the next transfer window when Ten Hag will look to build on the progress of his first season in the Premier League.
United also have an important summer of negotiations with existing players, with David de Gea out of contract. Telegraph Sport revealed earlier this season that United wavered on triggering his one-year extension and could look at trying to agree a new deal on a salary reduction. Marcus Rashford, United’s best player this season, will also have just one year left on his deal this summer.
United had a pre-existing relationship with Hargreaves, with Adidas returning as their kit supplier from the 2015-16 campaign. Hargreaves was a marketing director at the sportswear giants and focused on players and scouting.
He has been based in the north-west and will work out of United’s training base at Carrington, marking a shift from the Woodward era where he and Judge worked in London. United’s football operation is headed by director of football John Murtough, who has also recently appointed Andy O’Boyle as a deputy and David Harrison from Everton to oversee operations.
While the Glazer family are assessing a sale of the club, the restructuring of the recruitment department has still been a focus as United look to build on a successful summer window when they landed Casemiro, Antony, Lisandro Martínez, Christian Eriksen and Tyrell Malacia.
Judge was a point of contact for agents on football matters and negotiated transfers when United moved in the market. His departure was amicable, according to club sources, and United had been looking for a replacement since.