Former Lokomotiv Moscow president slams Ralf Rangnick

Former Lokomotiv Moscow president Nikolai Naumov has accused incoming Manchester United interim coach Ralf Rangnick of caring more about money than football.

Rangnick is expected to be announced as United boss until the end of the season imminently, bringing Michael Carrick's short caretaker spell to an end.

After steering first-team matters through to the summer the German will move into a consultancy role for a further two years.

Rangnick has been hailed as an inspired appointment by many, though not everyone is a fan. Former Lokomotiv president Naumov, for instance, has accused the former Schalke boss of following the money.

“It’s not about Manchester. For Rangnick, this is no escape, betrayal, or disgrace. Rangnick is a merchant,” he told Match TV.

“He absolutely does not care about football, because he only does business around him. And the more countries, leagues and football clubs he covers, the more he will earn. He’s absolutely indifferent to Lokomotiv. He did not come here to raise football, but to earn money.

“Now he was offered money elsewhere, and he and his company will go to United. When he’s offered to work in Africa, he will go to earn money there, leaving his deputy at Manchester United. Clean business.”

Although Rangnick looks set to be in charge in the short-term, 90min understands that the club still wants to appoint Mauricio Pochettino at the end of the season, having previously been interested in Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers.

Pochettino is not happy at Paris Saint-Germain despite their strong start to the domestic season and is said to be open to a Premier League return.

The Argentine has done little to quell speculation about his future in recent press conferences, refusing to rule out the possibility of him leaving the club.

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