Ruben Amorim is set to clarify his managerial future following Sporting Lisbon's match on Friday, as rumors suggest he is close to becoming Manchester United's new manager.
United dismissed Erik ten Hag on Monday after a disappointing 2-1 defeat to West Ham, leaving the team in 14th place in the Premier League with only three wins from nine matches. Amorim has emerged as the club's primary target, with Sporting confirming in a statement to the Lisbon stock exchange that United is willing to activate his release clause of €10 million ($11 million).
Although reports earlier on Thursday indicated that Amorim could be appointed later that day, those claims appear to have been premature. During a press conference ahead of Friday’s home league match against Estrela, Amorim faced numerous questions regarding his potential move but chose to remain noncommittal.
"It is a negotiation between two clubs," he stated. "It's never easy. Even with the clauses it's never easy; they have to talk. We will have clarification after the game. It will be very clear, so it's one more day. After the game tomorrow, we will have the decision made."
When asked about his interest in the Premier League, he remarked with a smile, "Everything."
Reports indicate that Amorim has agreed to a contract with United until 2027, with the possibility of an additional year. His first match as United’s manager could be on November 24 against Ipswich.
Earlier Thursday, The Athletic reported that United had reached an agreement with Sporting and noted that Amorim would continue to coach the Portuguese champions for their next three matches: the game against Estrela, a Champions League clash with Manchester City next week, and an away match at Sporting Braga the following weekend.
Since joining Sporting in March 2020, Amorim has secured two Portuguese league titles and is regarded as one of the promising talents in European coaching. He was previously linked with the Liverpool managerial position when Jurgen Klopp announced his departure, but Arne Slot ultimately took over at Anfield. Amorim also held discussions with West Ham this year before they opted for Julen Lopetegui as their new manager.
Despite significant investment in the transfer market, Ten Hag's tenure ended after a poor start to the season. Prior to Wednesday’s 5-2 victory against Leicester in the League Cup, United had won only one of their last eight matches across all competitions.
While Ten Hag managed to win both the League Cup and FA Cup during his time at Old Trafford, United has not claimed a Premier League title since 2013, the last season under Sir Alex Ferguson, who secured the championship 13 times. Since Ferguson's exit, five permanent managers have failed to add to the club's tally of 20 top-flight titles.
United's interim coach Ruud van Nistelrooy led the team to the win against Leicester and will handle media responsibilities for the upcoming Premier League match against Chelsea on Sunday. The former striker is expected to remain in charge for United's next three games before the international break and will preview the Chelsea match at a press conference later on Thursday. He has expressed interest in being part of the new coaching structure.
