Manchester United has expressed interest in appointing Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim and is prepared to activate his release clause of €10 million (£8.3 million), according to a statement from the Portuguese club. This development comes after United sacked Erik ten Hag on Monday following a 2-1 defeat against West Ham, which left the team 14th in the Premier League with only three wins from their first nine matches.
In a statement to Portugal’s financial regulator, the CMVM, Sporting confirmed, “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.”
Amorim, 39, is regarded as a talented coach, having led Sporting to two Portuguese league titles since joining in 2020, including the club’s first title in 19 years. However, Manchester United has not publicly commented on the reports regarding Amorim.
After Ten Hag’s dismissal, Ruud van Nistelrooy, who joined as Ten Hag’s assistant last summer, has been appointed as interim manager and will oversee Wednesday’s Carabao Cup match against Leicester City. United’s next Premier League fixture is set against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Sunday.
During a news conference on Monday, Amorim acknowledged the speculation regarding the Manchester United position but stated he was not prepared to discuss it. Sporting is scheduled to play Nacional in the Portuguese League Cup on Tuesday evening.
Amorim, whose contract with Sporting runs until June 2026, previously held discussions with West Ham in April but ultimately decided to remain with Sporting. He apologized to the club for those discussions, indicating a commitment to his current role.
With the ongoing developments, there is a possibility that Amorim could be in charge for Manchester United’s upcoming match against Chelsea. However, there are several uncertainties that need to be addressed, including Amorim’s salary, contract length, transfer budget, and how his preferred three-man defense would integrate with United’s current squad, which is rich in wingers and attacking midfielders. Additionally, questions remain about whether Bruno Fernandes would retain the captaincy and the future of Van Nistelrooy after the EFL Cup tie.
As the situation unfolds, it is anticipated that further details will be clarified in any formal announcements or media conferences in the coming days. For now, Amorim prepares for what is likely to be his final match as Sporting’s head coach, potentially marking the beginning of a new chapter in his career.
