I interviewed Ruud van Nistelrooy and saw how much Manchester United still meant to him

Usually when you knock on the door ahead of an interview you are greeted by a chirpy and overbearing PR. The man stood at the doorway of the Gran Melia's penthouse had a very familiar face.

"Hi, how are you?" Ruud van Nistelrooy asked, beckoning me in.

This was October 2013. Sir Alex Ferguson's second autobiography had been published the previous day at a ramshackle launch at the Industry of Directors. In it, a whole chapter was dedicated to Van Nistelrooy entitled 'Ruud'.

Back when press conferences were not filmed, Ferguson would call journalists every word under the sun. In his autobiography, every swear word was asterisked. "'You ****,' said Van Nistelrooy," Ferguson wrote. "I'll always remember that. Could not believe it... That was the end of him. He'd burned his boats."

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Van Nistelrooy's mood was unaffected by Ferguson dredging up the past. He had picked up the phone to apologise to him over his reaction to that 2006 League Cup final snub and attended Ferguson's statue unveiling at Old Trafford in December 2012.

He did not dispute any of Ferguson's recollections in a book laden with 45 factual errors. "The way he decided, what happened, it was... it wasn't an easy situation, in that sense," Van Nistelrooy said. "We both moved on like many players before me and after me, it's just the way it happened. I cherish those five years. It's the longest time I've played for a club in my career."

United were 4-0 up in the League Cup final against Wigan and Van Nistelrooy, benched in favour of Louis Saha, anticipated a cameo. Ferguson turned to Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra, signed only a month earlier, and reserve Kieran Richardson.

"After the third sub I just lost control and that wasn't supposed to happen, but it happened," Van Nistelrooy confessed. "I actually went out for a warm-up and was really ready to come on. It was three or four-nil, the game was over.

"It wasn't like we had won five Leagues and three FA Cups at the time, it was one League (2002-03) there and an FA Cup (2003-04), so I was very proud to be part of that day as a League Cup final, to make some minutes and get my share in that final.

"I was very, very disappointed not to be able to come on and not be a part of that day. Very disappointed. Deeply disappointed. I knew I wasn't going to play because I think I had two appearances reaching the cup final, it was the semi-final against Blackburn. That was over two games, wasn't it? So that was the two appearances before the final.

"So I was fine with not playing because the lads that had reached the final in the other rounds deserved to play. But I had really kind hopes of being part of that final, being on the pitch and celebrating with the fans."

Aged 37 at the time and recently retired, Van Nistelrooy was trim and dressed in a sharp white shirt and navy blue chinos. He was flanked by a couple of friends and necked a couple of beers as we watched Real Madrid versus Juventus in the Champions League.

Cristiano Ronaldo, his former teammate at the Bernabéu and United, scored twice in Madrid's win to usurp Van Nistelrooy in the Champions League's all-time goalscoring list. Van Nistelrooy was eager to know what was going on elsewhere.

"What's the United score?"

Old Trafford's singing section trial for Real Sociedad's visit was staged in the away section that night and Van Nistelrooy's name was aired. He seemed genuinely touched.

"Really? Ah, that's cool... That's fantastic... It's been a long time."

Van Nistelrooy had recently taken his children to watch Madrid for the first time but he was still continuing his annual trips to Manchester. He joined United for a club-record fee in 2001 and spent five years there. That 23-and-a-half-year association will become more ardent when he manages United against Leicester.

He said during the pre-season tour he discussed managerial opportunities at several clubs but could not reject the opportunity United offered. Given what a ruthless finisher Van Nistelrooy was, he must have had an inkling this scenario would play out.

Van Nistelrooy has lingered to applaud the away fans in recent weeks, ensuring his name was the last to be aired on their playlist. His temporary promotion to interim manager was inevitable.

Club sources have described Van Nistelrooy as an authoritative and rounded coach who offers invaluable input into the defensive side of coaching. During a training session at UCLA, he demanded the players "quicken it up". Marcus Rashford soon did with a slick goal.

"We did position specific on the pitch," United striker Joe Hugill, on loan at Wigan, said. "A lot of the 8s running on, creating opportunities for the 9s with the crosses, different types of crosses coming into the box, where he wants the 9s to be. He did his own drills to help the forward players out."

Van Nistelrooy could have settled for the sun of Marbella in retirement. He will pull on the tracksuit and brave the Manchester elements again on Wednesday.