Football pundit Craig Burley has insisted that Ryan Giggs may be better off leaving Manchester United in order to gain coaching experience.
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Speaking to ESPN FC, the former Chelsea midfielder believes that the Welshman may not be in the best position learning from Louis van Gaal if he harbours ambitions of taking the job in the future.
Giggs spent numerous years as a player working under Sir Alex Ferguson, which in turn resulted in countless trophies in a glittering career. Aside from a short stint as interim manager following the sacking of David Moyes, he has continued in an assistant role since and will hope to one day take up the main job again.
However, with the Manchester Evening News reporting that the former winger is perhaps not learning and having enough of a say to put himself in a better position down the line, a move away from Old Trafford to gain experience could be what he needs at this stage of his career.
For a player that was part of several entertaining United sides over the years, the change in philosophy and approach under Van Gaal will be going against what he has been taught previously, and so the clash of styles is arguably holding him back and altering his own methods.
In contrast, Van Gaal has shown his winning pedigree at every level all across Europe, and combined with what Ferguson will have passed on to him, Giggs is undoubtedly collecting knowledge.
Whether that is knowledge and tactical-nous that will benefit him in the future remains to be seen, but with Gary Neville stepping out of his comfort zone to prove himself after joining Valencia, as reported by The Guardian, his former teammate may well be better served doing the same if he’s looking at the bigger picture.