A page turns, another opens. After the dismissal of Erik ten Hag on October 28, Manchester United officially named Rúben Amorim on the bench of the Red Devils, currently occupying a poor 14th place in the Premier League. Under pressure, the Mancunian board therefore decided to pay a release clause of 10 million euros to afford one of the most coveted technicians on the football planet. Central architect of Sporting CP’s success in recent years, the 39-year-old Portuguese is preparing to take on an exciting new challenge.
The choice of the heart
“Manchester United are pleased to announce the appointment of Ruben Amorim as Head Coach of the Men’s First Team, subject to obtaining a work visa. He will be committed until June 2027, with the option of an additional year, once he has fulfilled his obligations to his current club. He will join Manchester United on Monday November 11», Explained, in this regard, the English club in a press release published this Friday. A formalization which finally led to the first explanations from the principal concerned.
A few minutes after another resounding home victory for his club against Estrela Amadora (5-1), the Lisbon native appeared at a press conference to justify his choice to join the Mancunian team. If the timing did not fail to annoy several Leões supporters, Amorim quickly explained the reason for this outcome. “I asked Manchester United if I could join them at the end of the season. That’s what I wanted but Manchester United said no. It was now or never. So I had to make a decision and I said yes”first assured the future manager of the Red Devils before continuing.
“It is my choice to leave Sporting Portugal, it is a difficult decision which will completely change my life. I had the best period of my life at Sporting but it was my choice, although I changed my opinion several times for fear of harming the club.. Expected to be the hero of the Old Trafford side, the former Braga coach subsequently detailed his thoughts. “Manchester United showed up and they paid above the release clause. I was told it was now or never. I had three days to decide and I decided to accept, it was impossible to refuse. This is exactly the context I wanted because I can do things my way. I will take my technical staff with me to Manchester United. They are absolutely essential for me. We have been together since Casa Pia. It was one of the conditions..
Amorim makes a promise to Sporting!
Accused by certain observers of having chosen money, Amorim, here too, wanted to make things clear. “Some say it’s for the money. This is not the case. Other clubs were willing to pay me three times more (than Manchester United) and I refused. This is the club I wanted”. A choice of the heart which will however in no way take away the respect of the person concerned for his former club. Asked about the possibility of seeing several Sporting CP players join Man United in the coming weeks, starting with Viktor Gyökeres, author of a resounding quadruple on Friday evening, Amorim was once again categorical. “I will not come for any Sporting player in January. These years at Sporting were the best years of my life and I will not forget them.”.
As a reminder, the Portuguese technician must take up his duties on November 11, at the start of the international break. Until the arrival of Amorim, Ruud van Nistelrooy, former deputy of Erik ten Hag, will continue his interim role at the head of the team. Amorim should still ensure the matches at the head of Sporting before the international break, namely the Champions League clash against Manchester City on Tuesday and the trip to Braga next weekend in the championship. “We respected the decision”finally added the president of the SCP, Frederico Varandas, during this press conference, specifying that the new Sporting coach would be known after his departure.
