Solskjaer shook hands with Woodward on Man Utd job with three-hour dinner at an Italian restaurant

THIS is the swanky Italian restaurant where Ole Gunnar Solskjaer shook hands with Ed Woodward on becoming Manchester United’s new permanent manager.

SunSport broke the news last week that interim boss Solskjaer HAS landed the job, although the club may not announce it until the summer.

And we can also reveal the agreement was sealed during a three-hour dinner at the Cibo eaterie in Hale, Cheshire.

During the meal, United executive vice-chairman Woodward shook the Norwegian by the hand and beamed ‘Here’s to a long and successful relationship together’.

The pair had arrived before 7.30pm on the evening of February 6, the day of the Munich Air Disaster memorial.

Earlier Solskjaer was pictured with former United skipper Bryan Robson laying a wreath at a remembrance service held at Old Trafford.

Once the Italian job ended between Solskjaer and Woodward, the pair were whisked away in black Mercedes club cars.

Hale’s Cibo only opened in late 2018 but has already become a regular haunt for players and club execs alike.

Solskjaer, brought in from Norwegian club Molde as interim boss after the Christmas sacking of Jose Mourinho, had already been told he was being appointed officially.

But the 45-year-old was given the seal of approval by the club’s head honcho at that dinner meeting.

A witness, whose table at Cibo was very close to the pair, said: “When me and my party got to the restaurant Ole and Ed were already there.

“They spent the whole time eating but mainly talking quietly.

“There were big smiles between them as they got up to go and shook hands before getting into separate Mercedes that were parked on the kerb outside.”

It emerged last week that it cost United £19.6million to dump Mourinho and his staff, with around £15m of that going to the deposed Special One.

At around £36 for anti-pasta and a 10oz filetto Rossini, that scene in an Italian restaurant cost Woodward — who paid the tab — peanuts by comparison.

But with Solskaer already insisting he has the stomach for the job along with coach Mike Phelan, contract talks must now be on the table.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino was red-hot favourite to get the job.

But Solskjaer has taken United into the top four, after coming in 11 points away from a Champions League place.

His first defeat in 12 games came with last week’s 2-0 home Champions League defeat to French giants Paris Saint- Germain.

But he still has the chance to take United to Wembley in the FA Cup and has the full support of Sir Alex Ferguson and now, it appears, Woodward.