Former Manchester United man spotted at St James' Park after announcing Newcastle United move

Former Manchester United scout Marcel Bout was in the directors' box for Newcastle United's 2-2 draw against AFC Bournemouth on Saturday.

The 61-year-old, who announced he had joined the Magpies in November, is based in the Netherlands but travels around the world and is tasked with identifying major talent between the ages of 16 and 23.

"I have recently come into contact with Newcastle," said Bout. "The steady expansion of the club appeals to me. I’m also happy to be back in England and at Champions League level."

His public appearance at St James' Park came a day after a meeting between scouts took place, despite the uncertainty surrounding Dan Ashworth's future as sporting director.

Bout has held a long association with Dutch legend Louis van Gaal, starting at Bayern Munich in 2011 when he became assistant. He then reunited with Van Gaal at Man United in 2014, where he specialised in opposition scouting before becoming the Old Trafford club's chief global scout between October 2016 and April 2022.

"I could have been an ideal guide for Ten Hag within the club,” Bout told Algemeen Dagblad. "But Manchester United is not only a fantastic club, but also a difficult club.

"Everything is politically and commercially driven. My dismissal was a political dismissal. An influential Dutch bloc (at the club)… Not everyone liked that.

"I have been critical (of United) internally. A major annoyance was the long lines (delays) within United to make decisions about interesting players. Other top European clubs now have top players that we had seen early on with the scouting staff."