Ruben Amorim has indicated that he will provide clarity on his future following Sporting Lisbon’s match on Friday, amid growing speculation that he is set to become Manchester United’s new manager.
Manchester United dismissed Erik ten Hag on Monday after a 2-1 loss to West Ham left the team in 14th place in the Premier League, with only three victories from nine games.
Amorim has quickly emerged as United’s primary target, and Sporting Lisbon has confirmed through a statement to the Lisbon stock exchange that the club is prepared to meet his release clause of €10 million ($11 million).
While reports circulated on Thursday suggesting that the 39-year-old was on the verge of being named United’s new manager, those claims appear to have been premature.
At his press conference before Friday’s home league match against Estrela, Amorim faced numerous inquiries regarding his potential move, but he refrained from commenting in detail.
“It is a negotiation between two clubs,” he stated on Thursday. “It’s never easy. Even with the clauses it’s never easy; they have to talk.”
He added, “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 what he found appealing about the Premier League, he smiled and replied, “Everything.”
Amorim also expressed amusement when questioned about his viewing of United’s 5-2 League Cup victory over Leicester on Wednesday.
Reports suggest that Amorim has agreed to a contract until 2027, with the option for an additional year. If confirmed, his first match in charge could be against Ipswich on November 24.
The Athletic reported earlier on Thursday that United had reached an agreement with Sporting. It is expected that Amorim will continue with the Portuguese champions for the next three fixtures: the match against Estrela, a Champions League encounter with Manchester City next week, and a league game against Sporting Braga the following weekend.
Since joining Sporting in March 2020, Amorim has led the club to two Portuguese titles. He is regarded as one of the promising talents in European coaching, having been previously linked to Liverpool’s managerial position before Jurgen Klopp’s departure.
Earlier this year, Amorim held discussions with West Ham prior to their appointment of Julen Lopetegui as David Moyes’s successor.
Despite significant spending in the transfer market, Ten Hag’s departure followed a disappointing start to the season. Before the victory against Leicester, United had managed just one win in their last eight matches across all competitions.
During his time at Old Trafford, Ten Hag won both the League Cup and FA Cup, but the club has not lifted the Premier League trophy since 2013, the final year of Alex Ferguson’s tenure.
Ferguson secured 13 Premier League titles for United, but the club has seen five permanent managers come and go since his exit without adding to their total of 20 top-flight championships.
Currently, interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy is overseeing team operations, including the recent win against Leicester, and will lead media duties ahead of Sunday’s match against Chelsea. The former United striker is expected to remain in charge for the club’s three upcoming fixtures before the international break and is set to preview the Chelsea match later on Thursday, expressing a desire to be involved in the new coaching setup.
