In a significant turn of events, Manchester United has swiftly moved to express interest in signing Sporting Lisbon’s head coach Ruben Amorim. This development comes right after the club decided to part ways with Erik Ten Hag, following a disappointing 1-2 defeat against West Ham, leaving the team languishing at 14th in the Premier League standings. The announcement, confirmed by Sporting Lisbon, follows United’s unsatisfactory start to the season which ultimately led to the Dutchman’s dismissal.
Ruben Amorim, a 39-year-old highly-regarded manager, emerged as the prime candidate for the managerial role at United. Sporting Lisbon, in a formal announcement to the Lisbon stock exchange, disclosed United’s commitment to meeting Amorim’s release clause, priced at 10 million euros. “Manchester United have expressed their interest in recruiting coach Ruben Amorim and have said they are ready to pay the 10 million euro release clause,” Sporting publicly confirmed, adding to the growing suspense in football circles.
The Old Trafford outfit seems determined to bring Amorim to England despite having named former player Ruud van Nistelrooy as the interim manager. This decision underscores United’s forward-looking strategy, as they target one of Europe’s brightest young managerial prospects. Since taking charge at Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, Amorim has led the club to two Portuguese league championships, displaying his immense potential and adept understanding of the game.
Amorim, however, remained coy about his future when questioned ahead of Sporting’s League Cup clash against Nacional. “I’m not going to talk about my future,” he stated. “I’m very proud to be the coach of Sporting Lisbon.” His measured response reflected a focus on staying committed to his current role amidst swirling transfer speculation.
Meanwhile, Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler, also a young and upcoming coach in the Premier League, was queried about any counsel he might offer Amorim if he considers a move to Manchester. Displaying humility, Hurzeler responded, “39 and he’s eight years older than me. He’s already achieved great things in Portugal.
. I’ve seen some games of him; he plays incredible football. I’m not in a position to give him advice; if he needs advice he can probably ask Pep (Guardiola) or Jurgen Klopp.”
Further fuel was added to the speculative fire when Amorim was previously linked to the managerial role at Liverpool following Jurgen Klopp’s exit. However, the spot was filled by Arne Slot from the Netherlands, steering Amorim’s trajectory towards Manchester.
The pressure on Ten Hag was mounting, having narrowly maintained his role last season after Manchester United ended in a disappointing eighth place. The internal review by co-owner Jim Ratcliffe initially retained Hag, but the recent downturn in form proved to be decisive.
United’s early season misfortunes have been perplexing, especially after a summer spending spree aimed at strengthening the squad. Despite these investments, victories have been elusive, winning only one game out of their last eight in all competitions. This predicament heightened the urgency for a managerial change, leading to the intense pursuit of Amorim.
As Manchester United fans anxiously await concrete developments, Ruben Amorim’s potential appointment could herald a new era post-Ten Hag. With his proven track record in Portugal, Amorim’s potential arrival injects a dose of optimism into the distressed ranks at Old Trafford, offering hope for revival and resurgence.
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